<p>A challenge to investment casting of nickel superalloys is the propensity for reaction between the alloy melt and the ceramic mold. To minimize formation of reaction layers on Ni-alloy castings, novel refractory materials with low reactivity, such as strontium zirconate (SrZrO₃), can be used as ceramic molds. In the current study, interactions between SrZrO₃ and commercially available alloy 718 (IN718) were investigated and compared to several common ceramic mold materials. A modified drop-casting method was employed to assess alloy 718 performance and reaction layer features. The metal/mold interfaces were examined using electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to identify the phase evolution and reaction layer extent. The results showed that short time exposure between molten alloy 718 and SrZrO₃ did not result in any reaction layer while each of the other ceramics (Al₂O₃, Y₂O₃, and Yttria stabilized zirconia) did result in reaction layers.</p>