Blowholes Which Can Be Confused with

Shrinkage Cavities
IMPORTANT FOR PRACTICE
Gas porosity of this kind has already been mentioned
several times in this book, namely in Sections 8.3 ・2
(Figs. 263-267), 11.1 (Fig. 314) and 13.4.2 (Figs. 445-
450). This porosity manifests itself in many ways, and
some further examples will be given here.
Very often gas porosity is confused with true shrinkage
cavity phenomena for the following reasons:
1. The pores represent localized insulation in the
casting, in the form of a pad resembling sponge rubber.
The natural flow of heat is often seriously impaired.
2. Gas pores in the steel hinder the orderly flow of
metal back from the feeder head into the casting, with
the result that secondary cavities are formed (Fig. 451