Some Considerations on Environmental Sand Cores with Inorganic Binder

Abstract

Traditionally, complex sand cores are produced using organic binders such as phenolic and furan resins. These binders can create bad smelling fumes requiring complex and expensive ventilation equipment to fulfill environmental requirements. The increasingly more stringent environmental legislation forces the foundry industry to employ innovative and environmentally-compatible binder systems. The established organic binder systems have indeed been, and are still being, further developed with regard to their contents but it is questionable whether these will be able to fulfill the continuously increasing requirements of foundry neighborhoods and legislation. The Landshut magnesium and aluminum casting facility, which produces engine components, structural components and chassis parts for BMW, is expected to reduce its emissions of combustion residues by 98% with the implementation of the inorganic core binding system. The paper presents some considerations on environmental sand cores with inorganic binder.