An Innovative Method for the Dehydration Hardening of Modified Inorganic Binders

The results of research on the possibility of using a gaseous medium (hot air) as a hardening agent for inorganic binders were discussed, and tests on the reclamation of waste moulding sands were carried out. The research programme also included the use of a modernized test stand for hardening of foundry sands with gaseous agents and a pilot plant for the sand reclamation. Cores made on the test stand were examined for the basic technological properties and were also used in moulds for the trial knocking out of castings. Two types of binders were tested, i.e. a modified water glass designated as Binder A and, for comparison, a reference material which was hydrated sodium silicate R145. The hardener for the sand mixtures was hot air (the dehydration of water glass). Trials of the sand reclamation were carried out in a laboratory pilot plant, installed and operating at the Foundry Research Institute. The obtained reclaim was added in different amounts to the sand mixtures subjected to technological tests. The next step included the manufacture of test moulds, pouring them with aluminium alloy, and knocking out of castings to test the collapsibility of moulds and cores