Molecular Dynamic (MD) Simulations of Organic Modified Montmorillonite

This study complements the knowledge about organobentonites, which are intended to be new binders in foundry technology. In the developed materials, acrylic polymers act as mineral modifying compounds. Modification of montmorillonite in bentonite was carried out in order to obtain a composite containing a polymer as a lustrous carbon precursor. The polymer undergoes thermal degradation during the casting process, which results in the formation of this specific carbon form, ensuring the appropriate quality of the casting surface without negative environmental impact. The present paper reports the results of computational simulation studies (LAMMPS software) aimed at broadening the knowledge of interactions of organic molecules in the form of acrylic acid and acrylate anions (from sodium acrylate) near the montmorillonite surface, which is a simplified model of bentonite/acrylic polymer systems. It has been proven that the –COOH group promotes the adsorption of acrylic acid (AA) to the mineral surface, while acrylate ions tend to be unpredictably scattered, which may be related to the electrostatic repulsion between anions and negatively charged clay surfaces. The simulation results are consistent with the results of structural tests carried out for actual organobentonites. It has been proven that the polymer mainly adsorbs on the mineral surface, although it also partially intercalates into the interlayer spaces of the montmorillonite. This comprehensive research approach is innovative in the engineering of foundry materials. Computer simulation methods have not been used in the production of new binding materials in molding sand technology so far.

Shaping the Microstructure of High-Aluminum Cast Iron in Terms of the Phenomenon of Spontaneous Decomposition Generated by the Presence of Aluminum Carbide

A suitable aluminum additive in cast iron makes it resistant to heat in a variety of environments and increases the abrasion resistance of the cast iron. It should be noted that high-aluminum cast iron has the potential to become an important eco-material. The basic elements from which it is made—iron, aluminum and a small amount of carbon—are inexpensive components. This material can be made from contaminated aluminum scrap, which is increasingly found in metallurgical scrap. The idea is to produce iron castings with the highest possible proportion of aluminum. Such castings are heat-resistant and have good abrasive properties. The only problem to be solved is to prevent the activation of the phenomenon of spontaneous decomposition. This phenomenon is related to the Al4C3 hygroscopic aluminum carbide present in the structure of cast iron. Previous attempts to determine the causes of spontaneous disintegration by various researchers do not describe them comprehensively. In this article, the mechanism of the spontaneous disintegration of high-aluminum cast iron castings is defined. The main factor is the large relative geometric dimensions of Al4C3 carbide. In addition, methods for counteracting the phenomenon of spontaneous decay are developed, which is the main goal of the research. It is found that a reduction in the size of the Al4C3 carbide or its removal lead to the disappearance of the self-disintegration effect of high-aluminum cast iron. For this purpose, an increased cooling rate of the casting is used, as well as the addition of elements (Ti, B and Bi) to cast iron, supported in some cases by heat treatment. The tests are conducted on the cast iron with the addition of 34–36% mass aluminum. The molten metal is superheated to 1540 °C and then the cast iron samples are cast at 1420 °C. A molding sand with bentonite is used to produce casting molds.

The Structure and Properties of Asphalt Concrete on the Basis of Waste Foundry Sand

The features of the use of waste foundry sand to obtain secondary products are presented. The properties of the surface of mineral particles of waste molding sand are described. It is shown that on the surface of the particles there is a porous layer capable of increasing the adhesion forces of mineral particles with bitumen in the production of asphalt concrete. It has been established that the modified surface of the waste foundry sand contains up to 40% carbon, which provides an increase in the adhesion force between the mineral particles of the waste foundry sand and bitumen. It has been experimentally proven that the use of waste foundry sand in the composition of asphalt concrete can improve its physical and mechanical properties.

Organobentonites Modified with Poly(Acrylic Acid) and Its Sodium Salt for Foundry Applications

The article aims to verify the possibility of obtaining an organic–inorganic material acting as both a binder and a lustrous carbon carrier in bentonite-bonded molding sands. Due to the wide industrial application, organoclays can be considered as innovative materials supporting the foundry technology in meeting environmental requirements. In this study, the organic modification of montmorillonite in calcium bentonite (SN) was performed by poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and its sodium salt (PAA/Na). Additionally, for the purpose of comparison, the sodium-activated bentonite/poly(acrylic acid) (SN-Na/PAA) composites were also prepared. The collective analysis of the research results used in the assessment of the mineral/polymer interaction mechanism indicates surface adsorption combined with the intercalation of PAA monolayer into the mineral interlayer spaces. Materials were characterized by the combination of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) methods. Based on the XRD analysis, the influence of PAA/Na on the aluminosilicate layered structure was found to be destructive, which may adversely affect the binding properties of SN/PAA/Na composites considered as a potential group of new foundry binders. The SN/PAA and SN-Na/PPA composites (with appropriate polymer content) can act as a binding agent in the synthetic molding sand technology, despite coating the bentonite particles with polymer molecules. The risk of losing the mineral′s binding capacity is reduced by the good binding properties of pol(acrylic acid) itself. The article is the first stage (preceding the thermal analysis and the strength tests of molding sands with the prepared organobentonites) in determining the possibility of obtaining a new full-value foundry binder in molding sands with bentonite.

Media for Dimensional Stabilization of Rubber Compounds during Additive Manufacturing and Vulcanization

The current article proposes a concept for the additive manufacturing of rubber components using extrusion-based 3D printing, in which an additional medium is added to ensure the maintenance of shape within the elastomeric structure during the additive manufacturing process and in the subsequent vulcanization process. Specific requirements for the dimensional stabilization of the media were defined and suitable media were derived. Silicone rubber, molding sand, and plaster were examined in experimental vulcanization tests for their suitability as possible media with regard to shape retention. Selected rubber geometries made of NBR were embedded in these media to undergo the vulcanization process. The results show a significant influence of the media on the heating times. All media were able to ensure that the rubber geometries maintained their shape during vulcanization. Nevertheless, some side effects were found. The silicone rubber did not cure properly around the rubber sample. Therefore, it was difficult to remove it from the rubber after vulcanization. The molding sand caused an increased surface roughness on the rubber. Plaster changed the glossy surfaces at the beginning to a matte one after vulcanization and residuals were difficult to remove. However, all media can serve as stabilization media with specific changes.

Effect of green sand mixture with dextrin additives on mechanical properties of aluminum 6351

Quality of cast produced from green sand mold is been influenced by mold properties which includes green compression strength, permeability, etc. In this work the green sand used for casting of aluminum 6351 alloy specimens were made by mixing in varied percentage proportions; bentonite clay, dextrin additive and moisture content with local silica sand considering the need for most effective proportions of these mixtures to enhance green sand production of aluminum 6351 alloy products. A 3 factor, 3 level (33) design of experiment (DOE) was made for this research work using Optimal (custom) design of Design-Expert 10 software which gave 20 runs. Cylindrical specimens for green sand test were prepared according to standard per run. This was in order to study effects of bentonite clay, dextrin additive and moisture content of the green molding sand used for casting per mold this aluminum 6351 alloy. Prepared sand specimens were individually subjected to basic sand test like green sand strength and permeability test and also cast specimens per mold achieved were subjected to mechanical property test to achieve results which become the Response output of the study. These experimental results were optimized for the purpose of achieving most effective proportions of the mixtures to give effective results and from the optimal validation values, 5% water content, 12% bentonite and 8.85182% dextrin organic additive was found to be the optimized solution that gave the most effective hardness at (40.4GSS and 112PN) while 3% water, 12% bentonite clay and 9% dextrin additive gave most effective toughness at (41.9GSS and 96.10PN).

Ways for Recycling of Quartz Waste in the Production of Silicate Materials

The technological properties of quartz waste associated with the clay deposit are investigated by way of emission spectral analysis, petrography and X-ray phase analysis. This study considers the possibility of quartz waste utilization in the production of dry building mixtures as a filler, magnesia-quartz proppants as a raw material component, cement as a siliceous component, fine ceramics as a partially fluxing and exhausting component, silicate brick as the main raw material. In the production of glass and glassware it is possible to make use of the quartz waste as a glass-forming component including silicate blocks after refining for the Al2O3 and Fe2O3 content. Quartz waste can be recommended as molding sand after refining for the contents of Fe2O3, Na2O, K2O, MgO, CaO. Improvement of the properties of the quartz waste can be achieved by ways of elutriation to remove the clay component as well as magnetic separation to remove magnetic compounds of iron. Keywords: quartz waste, proppants, glass, cement, silicate brick, building mixtures, fine ceramics, molding sand, recycling

Titanium-containing coagulants for foundry wastewater treatment

Setting up a circulation water supply system is a prerequisite for a modern competitive steel making company. The most frequent problem faced by steel makers includes the challenge of removing suspended solids from large volumes of wastewater. Residual concentration of suspended solids (1-10 mg/l) is the main criterion of treatment efficiency. The most difficult task is to remove particles smaller than 1-2 microns, which stay suspended for a long time. One of the biggest sources of wastewater includes the process of removing residual molding sand from machine parts by water jet surface cleaning. Apart from high concentrations of suspended solids, process wastewater have high concentrations of dissolved organic compounds and require prior treatment before it can go to municipal wastewater treatment plants. Titanium-containing coagulants are being used more and more commonly in water treatment processes due to their high efficiency and the lack of most of the drawbacks inherent in conventional coagulants. This paper compares the conventional coagulants (i.e. aluminum and iron compounds) and coagulants containing titanium salts. In addition, complex titanium-containing coagulants were tested in the actual process of removing residual molding sand from machine parts by water jet surface cleaning. The findings show that titanium tetrachloride outperforms the conventionally used aluminum sulphate and iron chloride, while the effective dose of titanium tetrachloride is on average 2.5 to 3.0 times smaller. The obtained experimental data characterize the effect of added titanium compounds on the water treatment efficiency when conventional reagents are used. It was found that the addition 7.5 wt% of titanium tetrachloride to the conventional aluminum sulphate increases the treatment performance of the latter by 30%. The high efficiency of titanium-containing reagents is due to specific hydrolysis effects, as well as nucleation and flocculation at the surface of hydrolysis products. The rate of sedimentation and filtration of sludges resultant from water treatment with titanium-containing coagulants significantly exceeded that reached when using conventional reagents. The use of titanium-containing reagents will enable to transfer to smaller settlers and filters, reduce the consumption of reagents and reach an enhanced treatment performance. The treated water can be reused or discharged into municipal sewage treatment plants. This research study was carried out as part of the programme supporting research projects carried out by young staff of D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (Application З-2020-013)

Environmental Impact of the Reclaimed Sand Addition to Molding Sand with Furan and Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin—A Comparison

Increasingly strict regulations, as well as an increased public awareness, are forcing industry, including the foundry industry, to develop new binders for molding sands, which, while being more environmentally friendly, would simultaneously ensure a high quality of castings. Until recently, binders based on synthetic resins were considered to be such binders. However, more accurate investigations indicated that such molding sands subjected to high temperatures of liquid metal generated several harmful, even dangerous substances (carcinogenic and/or mutagenic) from the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons groups (PAHs). An assessment of the most widely used molding sands technologies at present with organic binders (synthetic resins) from the no-bake group (furan no-bake and phenolic-ester no-bake) and their harmfulness to the environment and work conditions is presented in this paper. In the first stage of this research, gases (from the BTEX and PAHs groups) emitted when the tested molds were poured with liquid cast iron at 1350 °C were measured (according to the authors’ own method). The second stage consisted of measuring the emission of gases released by binders subjected to pyrolysis (the so-called flash pyrolysis), which simulated the effects occurring on the boundary: liquid metal/molding sand. The gases emitted from the tested binders indicated that, in both cases, the emission of harmful and dangerous substances (e.g., benzene) occurs, but, of the given binder systems, this emission was lower for the phenolic-ester no-bake binder. The obtained emission factors of BTEX substances show higher values for furan resin compared to formaldehyde resin; for example, the concentration of benzene per 1 kg of binder for furan no-bake (FNB) was 40,158 mg, while, for phenol-formaldehyde no-bake (PFNB), it was much lower, 30,911 mg. Thus, this system was more environmentally friendly.