Search

Many years of foundry practice and much more accurate analytical methods have shown that sands with organic binders, in addition to their many technological advantages, pose risks associated with the emission of many compounds, including harmful ones (e.g., formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and sulfur), arising during the pouring of liquid casting alloys into molds, their cooling, and knock-out. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the potential benefits of adopting inorganic binders in European iron foundries. This will improve the environmental and working conditions by introducing cleaner and more ecological production methods, while also ranking the tested binders studied in terms of their harmful content. The article pays special attention to the analysis of seven innovative inorganic binders and one organic binder, acting as a reference for emissions of gases from the BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) groups and other compounds such as phenol, formaldehyde, and isocyanates (MDI and TDI) generated during the mold pouring process with liquid metals. The knowledge gained will, for the first time, enrich the database needed to update the Reference Document on The Best Available Techniques for the Smitheries and Foundries Industry (SF BREF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high pressure die casting (HPDC) is a technique that allows us to produce parts for various sectors of industry. It has a great application in such sectors as automotive, energy, medicine, as the HPDC allows us to produce parts very fast and very cheaply. The HPDC casting quality depends on many parameters. The parameters among others, are cast alloy alloy metallurgy, filling system design, casting technology elements geometry and orientation, as well as, machine operation settings. In the article, different plunger motion schemes of the HPDC machine were taken into account. Analyses lead to learning about plunger motion influence on the casting porosity and solidification process run. Numerical experiments were run with the use of MAGMASoft® simulation software. Experiments were performed for industrial casting of water pump for automotive. Main parameter taken into account was maximal velocity of the plunger in the second phase. The analysis covered porosity distribution, feeding time through the gate, temperature field during whole process, solidification time. Cooling curves of the casting in chosen points were also analysed. Obtained results allow us to formulate conclusions that connect plunger motion scheme, gate solidification time and the casting wall thickness on the solidification rate and porosity of the casting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, furan resin is the largest selling no-bake system of moulding sands. The most commonly used furan no-bake binders (FNB) are condensation products of furfuryl alcohol (FA) urea, formaldehyde and phenol. They are generally cured by exposure to organic sulfonic acids. FNB provide excellent mold and core strength, cure rapidly and allow the sand to be reclaimed at fairly high yields, generally 75%-80%, especially in applications where due allowance is made for the need to keep total sulfur content below 0.1%. However, due to probable carcinogenic properties of furfuryl alcohol, the EU Directive limits the content of this substance (in a monomer form in resin) to 25%. The classification of furfuryl alcohol and the resulting furan resin products has changed from "harmful" to "toxic by inhalation". The aim of this study was to determine the effect of free furfuryl alcohol content in the resin on the emission of harmful substances from the BTEX (Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene & Xylene) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) group exposed to high temperature and how it affects the emissions allowance of reclaimed sand in the matrix. Three resins from a leading manufacturer were examined, which contain a free furfuryl alcohol content of 71%-72%, about 50% and < 25%, respectively. The hardener for each resin was 65% aqueous solution of paratoluenesulfonic acid. Tests were carried out in semi-industrial conditions where liquid cast-iron was poured into sample sand mold at 1,350 °C. The matrix of the studied sands was reclaimed in the amount of 0, 50%, 100%, respectively. With the increase of free furfuryl alcohol content, the volume of evolved gases decreased. For all resins the main component from the BTEX group dominating in the emitted gases was benzene; however toluene also appeared in the amount of a few percentages. In contrast, ethylbenzene and xylenes occurred only in the gases emitted from resin-bonded sands with the largest furfuryl alcohol content. The increase in the share of reclaimed sands resulted in very significant increase in the volume of gas generated and participation of benzene in these gases. In terms of emission of compounds from the PAHs group virtually for all resins, the total content of these substances was comparable (within the limits of error). The main components were: fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo(a) anthracene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]