The effect of various production parameters on the heat absorbing capacity of greensand

Abstract

Greensand is a widely-used material to produce sand moulds in high production, mainly for iron casting applications. Several authors have studied the high temperature behavior of greensand regarding to the vapour condensation and transfer zones, and the effect of different production parameters on the thermal conductivity. This work focuses on the effect of the mixture composition on the heat absorption (cooling) capacity of the greensand. During the experimental work, various greensand mixtures with changing bentonite + water and coal dust contents were prepared and tested by a novel application of Fourier thermal analysis. The method provides new thermophysical knowledge about moulding sand, through applying real casting conditions by the immersion of spherical sand samples into liquid iron. The findings of the work direclty contribute to the area of thermal sciences and also brings novel understandings to foundry technology in general.

Keywords:

• Bentonite
• cast iron
• casting
• coal dust
• Fourier thermal analysis
• greensand
• heat absorption
• thermal properties