Innovative microwave hardening of water-glass containing sandmixes in technical-economic approach

In recent years, observed is increasing interest in sandmixes containing inorganic binders. These binders, including also water-glass, are harmless for the environment, neutral for humans and relatively cheap. In spite of numerous advantages, their wide application is restricted by poor knock-out properties and problems related to rebonding. Therefore, numerous researches aimed at eliminating disadvantages of water-glass binder are directed, among others, to modifying structure of hydrated sodium silicate or to applying new hardening techniques. The innovative method of rapid hardening by microwave heating, that permits restricting quantity of used binder and thus improving knock-out properties, meets expectations of present-day foundries. In this paper, compiled is available information on microwave hardening of water-glass containing sandmixes, as well as costs of practical application of this technology are evaluated on the ground of own research