In investment casting, also known as the lost wax process, a wax pattern is used to create the mold.
The wax pattern is coated with a refractory ceramic material. Once the ceramic hardens, the wax is melted and drained away, leaving a cavity into which molten metal is poured.
The use of wax allows for high precision and intricate detailing in the final cast product.
Options like clay, metal, and wood are not suitable for this process because they cannot be easily melted and removed like wax.