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Bureau of Labor Statistics data show the industrial sector as a whole in healthy shape, but a few manufacturing industries in deep trouble. These industries include tobacco manufacturers, iron and steel foundries, leather products, and steel manufacturers. Also examines shifts in employment and output, job quality, and outlook for the future. (CT)

Describes the Basic Oxygen Steelmaking process and discusses its differences from, and advantages over, other common steelmaking processes. States that most texts omit much of this information. (CW)

Provides information about the chemistry of steel making applicable to teaching secondary school science. Generalized chemical reactions describe the manufacture of steel from iron ore. Also discussed are raw materials, processing choices, and how various furnaces (blast, direct reduction, open hearth, basic oxygen, electric) work. (CS)

The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of using foundry by-products in porcelain tiles. This feasibility has been evaluated by three different perspectives: technical, radiological and environmental. Firstly, given that the main impurities in foundry by-products are carbon and organic compounds, thermal treatments that successfully reduce carbon and organic compounds have been evaluated. Subsequently, both calcined and uncalcined by-products have been characterised from a technological and radiological point of view and finally, porcelain tile compositions with both calcined and uncalcined by-products have been obtained. These compositions were fully characterised and their performance in the manufacturing process has been evaluated. The environmental impacts of this recycling process were also assessed by means of a life cycle assessment. The results confirm that foundry by-products can partially replace sand in porcelain tile bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to metal dust is a significant occupational hazard for foundry workers. This study aimed to investigate exposure to potentially toxic metals and oxidative stress indices and assess the health risk of occupational exposure to metal dust among foundry workers. Environmental and biological exposures to a cocktail of metals were examined by measuring the concentration of Aluminum (Al), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), and Chromium (Cr) in the air of the workplace, as well as in the blood of the exposed workers. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced blood glutathione (GSH) and urinary 8- hydroxydeoxy guanosine (8-OH-dG) were measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress. All air measurements were below the maximum allowable limits (MAL) except for Al and Ni according to American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Here is significantly elevated Blood Al, Zn, Cu, and Pb levels in exposed workers. Moreover, MDA and 8-OHdG levels significantly increased (P<0.0001). In contrast, the mean level of GSH was reduced considerably in exposed workers compared to the control group (P<0.0001). The MDA acts as a marker with the highest Area Under the Curve (AUC), enabling effective differentiation between the exposed and control subjects (AUC = 0.968; Sensitivity = 90%, Specificity =100%; P <0.0001). Workers occupationally exposed to these metals for prolonged periods possessed higher metal levels in their bodies, which is associated with increased oxidative stress, which consequently causes DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Within the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology (OBO) Foundry, many ontologies represent the execution of a plan specification as a process in which a realizable entity that concretizes the plan specification, a "realizable concretization" (RC), is realized. This representation, which we call the "RC-account", provides a straightforward way to relate a plan specification to the entity that bears the realizable concretization and the process that realizes the realizable concretization. However, the adequacy of the RC-account has not been evaluated in the scientific literature. In this manuscript, we provide this evaluation and, thereby, give ontology developers sound reasons to use or not use the RC-account pattern. Results: Analysis of the RC-account reveals that it is not adequate for representing failed plans. If the realizable concretization is flawed in some way, it is unclear what (if any) relation holds between the realizable entity and the plan specification. If the execution (i.e., realization) of the realizable concretization fails to carry out the actions given in the plan specification, it is unclear under the RC-account how to directly relate the failed execution to the entity carrying out the instructions given in the plan specification. These issues are exacerbated in the presence of changing plans. Conclusions: We propose two solutions for representing failed plans. The first uses the Common Core Ontologies 'prescribed by' relation to connect a plan specification to the entity or process that utilizes the plan specification as a guide. The second, more complex, solution incorporates the process of creating a plan (in the sense of an intention to execute a plan specification) into the representation of executing plan specifications. We hypothesize that the first solution (i.e., use of 'prescribed by') is adequate for most situations. However, more research is needed to test this hypothesis as well as explore the other solutions presented in this manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithography variation presents one of the biggest challenges for photonic component optimization, especially for fabless designers. Lithography prediction models are a crucial tool for minimizing the necessary number of fabrication iterations for a device's optimization. This paper presents one of these models specifically adapted for the contra-directional coupler structure. Through the experimental characterization of devices with a specific range of design parameters, it was possible to observe how the lithography process impacts their performance. A correction model based on effective refractive index variation and its impact on the Bragg condition of the structure was developed to predict the performance variation of a device based on the expected design variation induced by fabrication. The contra-directional couplers fabricated at CORNERSTONE foundry show a tendency to be redshifted as the gap decreases, due to an increase in waveguide width as a result of a diffraction-limited lithography process. Based on these and other findings, it was possible to correlate the design parameters to the posterior fabricated structure and ultimately predict the expected experimental response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling large-scale many-body quantum systems at the level of single photons and single atomic systems is a central goal in quantum information science and technology. Intensive research and development has propelled foundry-based silicon-on-insulator photonic integrated circuits to a leading platform for large-scale optical control with individual mode programmability. However, integrating atomic quantum systems with single-emitter tunability remains an open challenge. Here, we overcome this barrier through the hybrid integration of multiple InAs/InP microchiplets containing high-brightness infrared semiconductor quantum dot single photon emitters into advanced silicon-on-insulator photonic integrated circuits fabricated in a 300 mm foundry process. With this platform, we achieve single-photon emission via resonance fluorescence and scalable emission wavelength tunability. The combined control of photonic and quantum systems opens the door to programmable quantum information processors manufactured in leading semiconductor foundries. Integrating tunable quantum emitters with commercial photonic circuits is promising for quantum information applications but remains a challenge. Here the authors report integration of InAs/InP microchiplets containing quantum dot single photon emitters into a large-scale foundry silicon platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present hectic times do not allow the foundrymen to test various modifications of gating system in real production due to lack of time and efficiency of production phase. When testing of tens or hundreds of modifications is needed, simulation software MAGMA5 and its optimization procedure comes into place. This article deals with choosing the best design of gating system which will ensure the filling of the sprue as soon as possible together with possible shortening of pouring time on Disamatic line. Soonest filling of the sprue will ensure that no air is entraped in the molten metal which is entering the cavity of the mold and no air bubbles would occur in the final casting after pouring. With this goal achieved, foundry can secure the production of castings. There is a big chance chance to decrease the pouring time of the mold, which will make the production more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relying on scrap rates alone to assess process control in the foundry can be deceiving. Depending on the inspection method used, it is possible to sort grossly non-conforming parts, while still allowing a wide window of acceptance, masking a process that is out of control. Modern methods of acoustic resonance testing (ART) allow for detailed data logging of both part weight and resonant frequency peak data. Monitoring these two factors at the lot level can give foundry managers insight into how consistent their process is both within a single date code and across multiple date codes. The information collected during quality testing can and should be combined with statistical information gathered at the front of the foundry (design, tooling, molding, inoculation, pouring, cooling, and shakeout) and used to adjust the process to achieve smaller data spreads and more consistent and repeatable process control. Once a process is deemed to be under control, consideration should be given to monitoring the defined specification limits and subsequent control limits using statistical trend analysis as a means for ensuring a process is not approaching a condition in which the opportunity for quality issues can arise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organically-bound foundry cores are substituted by inorganically-bound cores increasingly. This trend is due to regulatory efforts, workplace safety issues, and increasing costs for waste deposits. Changing the binder system reduces the emissions to mostly water vapor, solving health and safety issues. Yet, the difference in the behavior of the gas phase, namely, the condensation potential of water, changes the casting process drastically. In contrast with the continuous generation and discharge of combustion products in the case of organic binders, water accumulates within the foundry core. Only once the cold spots of the core reach boiling temperature noteworthy amounts of vapor are created, increasing the chance for gas defects of the cast parts. Countermeasures have to be taken when designing the core's geometry. We conducted the following research to improve the understanding of core gas release and its interactions with the foundry core's binder content and storage conditions. Both binder content and relative humidity during storage were varied in three steps. Their influence on the core gas amount, time of gas generation, and gas permeability of the cores were investigated. The experiments were performed in the institute's Induction Analysis Furnace and an aluminum melt bath. We found a strong dependency of storage humidity, further increased by increasing binder content on the gas amount and time of the gas release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of mold properties is crucial in the foundry industry to ensure efficient and high-quality casting production. This study focuses on the assessment of mold properties using silica sand, copper slag, and their mixture as molding materials in the sodium silicate, CO2 (carbon dioxide) chemical binder process. The properties investigated include mold hardness, permeability, and compressive strength. The aim is to evaluate their suitability and performance in comparison with traditional molding materials. The results indicate that a mixture of 6% sodium silicate and 15 sec of CO2 gas passing is highly effective in achieving optimum mold properties for both slag and sand molds. These properties remained stable even after prolonged exposure to different weathering conditions, highlighting the durability of the molds. Furthermore, the study revealed that the combination of sand and slag yields mold properties that lie between those of the pure ingredients. Specifically, a mixture comprising 80% sand and 20% slag exhibited the most desirable properties. Additionally, investigations were conducted using a 20% sand and 80% slag mixture, which demonstrated improvements in mold properties. In terms of material substitution, the evaluation of mold properties using the CO2 process showed that copper slag displayed similar characteristics to sand. This finding suggests that copper slag can serve as a suitable alternative to partially or fully replace silica sand in mold-making applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundry industry is responsible for the production of several potentially polluting and hazardous compounds. One of the major sources of pollution is the use of organic binders for the manufacturing of sand cores and sand moulds. To address this problem, in recent years, the use of low-emission products, known as inorganic binders, has been proposed. Their use in ferrous foundries, otherwise, is limited due to some problematic features that complicate their introduction in the manufacturing process, as often happens when a breakthrough innovation is introduced. In light of this, the aim of this work is to provide a Green Innovation Practice (GIP) to manage the introduction of green breakthrough innovations, as previously described, within an existing productive context. This practice was applied to better manage the experimental phase of the Green Casting Life Project, which aims to evaluate the possibility of using inorganic binders for the production of ferrous castings. After describing the state of the art of GIPs and their application in manufacturing contexts, the paper described the proposed GIP and its application to a real case consisting of testing inorganic binders in a ferrous foundry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and work safety aspects necessitate a radical change in the foundry industry. Organic binder systems for foundry sand cores create toxic combustion products and are, therefore, more and more often substituted by inorganic binder systems. While providing an environmental advantage by mainly releasing water vapor, inorganic binder systems impose new challenges for the casting process. The gas release of inorganically-bound foundry cores can lead to increased gas porosity in the cast parts and thus to high scrap rates. The present work aims to gain more understanding of the gas generation and transport in inorganic sand binder systems. We developed a test stand to measure the temperature-dependent core gas release in inorganically-bound foundry cores and their gas permeability. Samples were prepared in a core blowing process and analyzed using the test stand. The measurement results are in good agreement with validation experiments and existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista El Directivo al Día is the property of Centro de Informacion y Gestion Tecnologica (CIGET) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Foundries, to the same extent today as in the past, represent one of the strategic branches of all industry. In fact, all aspects of modern life depend on the casting and production of brake discs, medical implants, marine engines, and even aircraft components like turbine blades. Foundries provide supplies to all sectors of modern industry, including automotive, aircraft, medicine, power generation, etc. The Slovak economy largely depends on the automotive industry for which casting is necessary. Cast components are used not only for engines, chassis, and drives but also in vehicle bodies. This article reports information on the current number of foundries in Slovakia, the number of produced casting tons and melting methods, the casting techniques in various foundries, and the types of cast metals. It considers the income of individual foundries, the impact of the economic situation, and assumptions regarding further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes a comparison of the efficiency of different types of rotors used in the refining of aluminium melt at a foundry degassing unit (FDU). Physical modelling was used to obtain data for six different rotor types under defined experimental conditions. In order to evaluate the data from the physical model, an evaluation method based on the interpolation of degassing curves was developed in such a way that the resulting characteristic can be expressed by a single parameter. Using the new methodology, the datasets were replaced by a single dimensionless parameter, a, which characterizes the rotor performance at a given gas flow rate. Based on the comparison of these performance parameters, it was possible to mutually compare the rotor efficiency depending on the selected conditions. The comparison is also demonstrated on the expected degassing time to a certain required concentration. Based on the physical model results, the study found that rotor D had the highest degassing efficiency, followed by rotors F and A. Rotors B and E had similar efficiency at a flow rate of 17 Nl·min−1. However, rotor B showed better efficiency at higher inert gas flow rates (19 and 21 Nl·min−1), while rotor E showed better efficiency at lower flow rates (13 and 15 Nl·min−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the early first millennium BC, having deposed the Shang dynasty, the Western Zhou exerted power over large parts of China. Archaeologically, however, the Western Zhou are less well known than their predecessors in terms of north-west China. The site of Yaoheyuan is one of the most important recent discoveries of the Western Zhou period in north-west China. Investigations have revealed a walled urban centre, with high-status cemeteries and sacrificial pits, a palace complex, a bronze-casting foundry, pottery workshops and inscribed oracle bones. These unparalleled finds provide significant new evidence with which to examine the political and cultural landscape of north-west China and, more broadly, to reassess the relationships between centres and peripheries during the Chinese late Bronze Age. Keywords: Ningxia, Western Zhou, oracle bones, bronze-casting foundry, elite tombs, sacrificial pits, Circa 1045 BC, the Zhou, a small polity centred on the Guanzhong Plain in the Wei River Valley, overthrew the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1045 BC) and established the Western Zhou [...]

In the 1930s, the Iron Foundry , a short orchestral piece by the Soviet composer Aleksandr Mosolov, became hugely popular with audiences across Europe, North America, and beyond. Reassembling the fragmented archives of its performance and reception histories, this article sets out to follow the work on the circuitous routes that ensued. Addressing issues including programmaticism, the reception of Soviet music, and the history of comedy, I show how Mosolov's composition became a lightning rod for larger debates about concert music's relationships with modernity, politics, and mass entertainment. The case of the Iron Foundry , I suggest, illustrates how the pleasures of machine aesthetics – and, more specifically, a stylized idiom of mechanized gesture distinctive to the period – became widely assimilated into what we might call the vernacular internationalism of the interwar middle classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the issue of improving the efficiency of a Foundry Degassing Unit (FDU) via operational testing of aluminium alloys during casting at MOTOR JIKOV Slévárna a.s.. As part of the research, the efficiency of the refining process in the FDU was assessed. The main emphasis was placed on determining the moment of the greatest decrease in the hydrogen content in the melt and whether it is possible to shorten the refining cycle. The values of the Dichte Index were determined, on the basis of which the degassing curve was plotted and the progress of the melt degassing was assessed. To ensure the required quality of castings, the maximum allowable value of the Dichte Index ranged from 3 to 4%. During the process, the temperature drop during the refining cycle was also determined. The total temperature drop from pouring the melt into the ladle to the end of refining ranged from 26 to 32 °C, which is within the acceptable limits of the foundry. Based on the knowledge resulting from the operational experiments, recommendations were formulated to optimize the refining technology at the FDU for the MOTOR JIKOV Slévárna a.s. foundry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays the improvement of environmental performances is one of aims of innovation in factories, to implement the sustainable development. For the achievement of the environmental goals, a firm can follow Green Innovation, namely developing environmentally friendly products and processes. In spite of the interest on Green Innovation, the progress towards the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, at halfway, is insufficient. In searching for solutions probably the complexity of introducing Green Innovation in factories is an issue. The aim of the paper is to show the complexity of innovation management by a real case: the pretests of new inorganic binders in a ferrous foundry. After a brief description of the Green Casting project case is considered by showing all the activities and entities involved. Finally, the results are discussed, and possible future developments are drawn. Results will show that development of project management tools and new technologies for training could be useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to conduct an analysis to find opportunities for the implementation of software incorporating the concept of digital twins for foundry work. Examples of implementations and their impact on the work of enterprises are presented, as is a definition and history of the concept of a digital twin. The outcome of this work is the implementation of software that involves a digital copy of the author's device, created by the "Łukasiewicz" Research Network at the Krakow Institute of Technology. The research problem of this scientific work is to reduce the number of necessary physical tests on real objects in order to find a solution that saves time and energy when testing the thermal expansion of known and new metal alloys. This will be achieved by predicting the behavior of the sample in a digital environment and avoiding causing it to break in reality. Until now, after an interruption, the device often continued to operate and collect data even though no current was flowing through the material, which could be described as inefficient testing. The expected result will be based on the information and decisions obtained by predicting values with the help of a recurrent neural network. Ultimately, it is intended to predict the condition of the sample after a set period of time. Thanks to this, a decision will be made, based on which the twin will know whether it should automatically end its work, disconnect the power or call the operator for the necessary interaction with the device. The described software will help the operator of a real machine, for example, to operate a larger number of workstations at the same time, without devoting all their attention to a process that may last even for hours. Additionally, it will be possible to start work on selecting the chemical composition of the next material sample and plan its testing in advance. The machine learning handles model learning and value prediction with the help of artificial neural networks that were created in Python. The application uses historical test data, additionally retrieves current information, presents it to the user in a clear modern form and runs the provided scripts. Based on these, it decides on the further operation of the actual device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive management of light polarization states has significantly advanced various fields into a new era. With the advent of photonic integration, there has been a persistent desire to replace the bulky optical components with compact chip‐scale circuits. Nonetheless, the complete integration of polarization‐dependent systems has not yet been accomplished due to the absence of a mature polarization management scheme that possesses a tiny form factor and high foundry process compatibility meanwhile maintaining low operation complexity. Here, to overcome these limitations a novel concept called polarization phase mapping, which encodes the information between the light polarization in one waveguide and the relative light phase shift in another two waveguides, is proposed. With this bi‐directional mapping approach, the fundamental basis of polarization management has shifted from polarization adjustment to phase regulation. All essential polarization‐related functions including synthesizing, stabilizing, measuring, rotating, splitting, and mixing are demonstrated with the standard process in foundries. The size of the polarization rotating unit is pushed down to a few light wavelengths while keeping a competitive performance. Moreover, the proposed concept can be readily applied to other integrated photonics platforms. It is expected to unlock new opportunities for complex polarization‐related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial reuse of foundry dust discharged from sand casting process has good environmental and economic benefits. In this study, the alkali-activated foundry dust was used to prepare the non-sintered ceramsites, and the effects of modulus and content of sodium silicate solution on the compressive strength, water absorption rate, and softening coefficient of the non-sintered ceramistes were systematically investigated. The sodium silicate modulus and content ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 and 0 to 15%, respectively, were conducted. The microstructures and crystalline phases of the non-sintered ceramsites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The results demonstrate that sodium silicate with low modulus can remarkably improve the properties of the non-sintered ceramsites. The maximum compressive strength of the non-sintered ceramsites prepared by foundry dust can reach 4.05 ± 0.24 MPa, and the 24 h water absorption rate and softening coefficient are 6.61% and 0.75, respectively. The sodium silicate can stimulate the activity of foundry dust, promote the formation of (C, N)–A–S–H gels, and enhance the densification of the ceramsites, resulting in acceptable properties for the non-sintered ceramsites, which can be used in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kronika is the property of Kronika, Casopis za Slovensko Krajevno Zgodovino and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Predicting the permeability of different regions of foundry cores and molds with complex geometries will help control the regional outgassing, enabling better defect prediction in castings. In this work, foundry cores prepared with different bulk properties were characterized using X-ray microtomography, and the obtained images were analyzed to study all relevant grain and pore parameters, including but not limited to the specific surface area, specific internal volume, and tortuosity. The obtained microstructural parameters were incorporated into prevalent models used to predict the fluid flow through porous media, and their accuracy is compared with respect to experimentally measured permeability. The original Kozeny model was identified as the most suitable model to predict the permeability of sand molds. Although the model predicts permeability well, the input parameters are laborious to measure. Hence, a methodology for replacing the pore diameter and tortuosity with simple process parameters is proposed. This modified version of the original Kozeny model helps predict permeability of foundry molds and cores at different regions resulting in better defect prediction and eventual scrap reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ge-Conservación is the property of Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Anyang Team of Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences conducted five excavations of a bronze foundry site at the Huanbei Shang City from 2015 to 2019. A variety of archaeological features were discovered, ranging from the foundation built from calcareous nodules and rammed earth, bronze melting and casting area, refuse area, sacrificial pit, ash pit, well, and cache pit. Many artifacts related to metallurgy were also unearthed, including clay molds, models, cores, bellow nozzles, slag, furnace fragments, charcoal, bone gravers, and whetstones. The discovery of this bronze foundry site is of great value for the study of the Huanbei Shang City layout, the operation, and management of bronze casting, technological transmission, and other questions. Bronze casting technology at Huanbei Shang City was still in its early stages of development, but it laid a solid foundation for the later flourishing of the bronze civilization at Yinxu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to significant industrialization, many countries have adopted the practice of industrial symbiosis, which involves utilizing the waste produced by one industry as a resource for another industry. The utilization of spent foundry sand (SFS), which is derived from the metal casting industry, poses a significant risk to both the environment and living organisms as a result of the existence of inorganic and organic substances. Nevertheless, this waste material can serve as a valuable resource for the construction sector. The utilization of SFS is significantly restricted due to insufficient comprehension of its concrete performance, despite its extensive range of applications. It is imperative to comprehend the behavior of spent foundry sand in concrete, particularly in relation to achieving a structure that is both strength-efficient and durable. The current study explores the usability of M-sand and spent foundry sand in self-compacting concrete. Reference concrete was produced by replacing river sand with 100% M-sand. M-sand was substituted with spent foundry sand in ratios ranging from 0 to 30%. Compared to the reference mix, SCC's mechanical and durability properties with 20% SFS were better. In comparison to the reference mix, SCC containing 20% SFS had higher mechanical and durability characteristics at 3, 7, 28 days, and 28 days, respectively. With 20% SFS, replacement showed better mechanical properties at all curing ages and better durability performance at 28 days of the curing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss microLED display yield and manufacturing challenges related to the CMOS integration as well as epi‐defectivity. Based on those considerations, we show the MICLEDI approach how to address them in a 300mm foundry compatible integration flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most unfavorable operations in terms of dust affect in foundries of both conveyor type and serial and individual production is the knocking out of flasks. In these areas, the highest overall incidence among workers in the foundry is observed. To remove gases and dust from knock-out gratings, mechanical exhausts are installed, the dust-saturated air from which requires further dust cleaning before being released into the atmosphere. Cyclones are the most widely used in dust cleaning systems of such industries, but the choice of dust collectors is a nontrivial task and requires a systematic approach. This article discusses the method of selection and calculation of dust-cleaning equipment on the example of foundry dust based on the hierarchy analysis method.

It is evident that inspection is a critical step in investment casting and that there is a growing demand for skilled manpower and domain experts in this field. The use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and image processing can help to address these challenges and improve the inspection process. The proposed inspection device, which incorporates image processing and artificial intelligence, has the potential to provide more accurate and efficient inspection results. By streaming the results to a cloud-based server, the device can help to maintain accurate records and facilitate necessary actions. The use of different domains of engineering, including manufacturing, computer, and instrumentation engineering, further demonstrates the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing complex challenges. The testing of the device in an industrial environment is a positive indication of its effectiveness and usability. By reducing the level of skill sets and domain expertise required for inspection, the device could also help to address the growing demand for skilled manpower in this field. Overall, the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and image processing has the potential to transform the inspection process in investment casting and other manufacturing processes. The proposed inspection device is a promising development in this direction and could contribute to improving the efficiency and accuracy of inspection processes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of the technical infrastructure determines the degree to which the quality requirements of products are met and has a significant impact on occupational safety. The purpose of this study is to build a universal model for supporting quality management, which allows the effective implementation of a wide-ranging research path supporting the evaluation of the relationship between the degree of modernity of product processing technology and the quality of the final product and the level of occupational safety. The developed model is verified by its implementation in one of the turning stations. A practical test of the quality management support model confirms that the practice of conducting analyzes of the level of modernity of infrastructure with its application contributed to identifying critical machine components, examining factors affecting the quality of technological operations, reducing uncertainty and the risk of risky events, and conducting activities in line with the concept of continuous improvement. The course of action detailed in the model makes it possible to determine the relationships that exist between key categories of factors and critical product defects, and accidents and near-misses. This allows for the proposal of adequate improvement measures. Further studies concern the implementation of the model at other workstations in the foundry company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a proposal to improve the temperature control of a bain-marie used to melt mozzarella cheese, in order to obtain the appropriate texture of the cheese, prevent it from burning and reduce economic losses in fast food places. Initially, the process used to melt the cheese was studied to determine the components that need to be changed to improve the performance of the system. Subsequently, the phenomenological modeling of the process, which served as a basis to properly tune the controllers, was carried out. The proposal is based on low-cost technology and components; electrical plans, instrumentation and control plans are presented, and the use of PI-type digital controllers for temperature control is proposed. Controllers were tuned using internal model control (IMC) techniques and the locus of roots (LGR) method. The tests carried out with the prototype show significant improvements in the quality of the texture of the cheese and in the time necessary for its adequate melting without loss of raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a construction project, there must be a high risk of work. Occupational safety and health is needed to control and deal with work risks, so as to minimize work accidents. The 10-storey building project in Bandar Lampung City has many workers so there will be a potential for work accidents. The implementation of occupational safety and health (K3) is needed to analyze the level of work safety risk in the construction project. This study aims to analyze and identify the level of work safety and health risks in a 10-storey building project in Bandar Lampung City. The method used is by direct observation and interviewing the respondent, namely the contractor. From the research conducted, the results obtained were that there were 5 risks with high ratings and high-risk jobs, namely ironing work and foundry work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling is now, more than ever, an important part of any foundry process due to the high cost of energy. The basis of the work presented here is a study of the addition of foundry scrap returns to the melt in order to reduce material and energy costs. The most important issue in such a process is the quality of both the prepared melt and final product. In this work, scrap returns were added to the AlSi9Cu3 base alloy in different proportions. Chemical composition was monitored, the solidification path was predicted by CALPHAD calculations and monitored by thermal analysis, and the formed microstructure was studied. The mechanical properties were also determined. The results showed that as the amount of scrap returns increased, elements such as Fe, Ni, Pb, Sr, etc. were more built up and elements such as Mg, Mn, Cr, etc. were decreased due to oxidation. The different chemical composition led to a reduced Mn:Fe ratio, resulting in the formation of needle-like Fe-rich phases and a decrease in mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The river system of the Bengal delta encompasses a huge amount of fluvial sand; however, no comprehensive studies were available on using this river sand in foundry industries. Hence, the present research evaluates the foundry properties of trans-boundary Brahmaputra River sand and its prospects for use in foundries. Several laboratory analyses have been performed to elicit the foundry properties using standard methods of foundry analysis, including XRD, XRF, TG-DSC, and FESEM. From the study, the sand contains mainly quartz with small amounts of feldspar, amphibole, chlorite, and mica, and exhibits a subangular to subrounded shape. The sand is dominated by SiO2 (67.81-69.97%) and lesser amounts of other oxides, and it is thermally stable within 1000 °C temperature. The grain fineness number (64-79), mineralogical, chemical, thermal, and foundry properties are suitable for non-ferrous metal casting without distortion. Further, the aluminum and zinc alloy casting with trials demonstrate their potential for use in the foundry industries. The outcomes of this study thus offer valuable information about utilizing Brahmaputra River sand for foundry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study on the effectiveness of photovoltaic farm and battery energy storage in one of the Polish foundries. In the study, we consider two investment options: stand-alone PV farm of 1MWp and the farm together with battery energy storage with a maximum capacity of 4MWh. The Payback Period and Net Present Value were used as measures of investment profitability. The paper provides a detailed presentation of the assumptions made, as well as the PV electricity production model of the farm and the optimization model that determines the operation cycle of the energy storage. The case study presented in the article shows that the PV farm is economically sensible and profitable, but the battery energy storage is too costly to give a positive economic effect. Energy storage is an important element that provides flexibility in the energy supply system, so it is necessary to find a technical solution that gives this flexibility. Such a solution could be a virtual power plant, which could include a foundry energy system with a RES installation inside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earliest foundry site of Pre-Roman Padua, in the Veneto region (north-eastern Italy), provided evidence of craft activities and residential areas dated between the end of the 9th and 1st centuries BCE. Common and fine wares were found, most of them belonging to two main ceramic classes: (i) highly dark-colored bodies with silicate inclusions; (ii) carbonate-tempered pots. Macroscopic and petrographic (POM) descriptions and spectroscopy—mineralogical (XRPD) and geochemical (XRF)—analyses were carried out to define the provenance and technological choices (production recipes and firing conditions). The first ceramic class comprised diverse local/regional productions made with a common geo-resource, consisting in quartz-rich illitic clays, for which pit firing conditions generally under 850–900 °C were adopted. The purification of the starting base clays, the tempering of the clayey pastes with silica-rich grains and/or the polishing of surfaces were accomplished for fine wares. The carbonate-tempered pottery probably corresponded to an allochthonous ceramic class that might be used in the trade of specific contents. As such pots were made out of different illitic clays and under different redox conditions, they might correspond to diverse productions. The adoption of precise choices in very specific wares, not belonging to any of these two main ceramic classes, suggests the trade of fine wares in the Veneto during the First Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication processes of silicon nitride (Si3N4) photonic devices used in foundries require low temperature deposition, which typically leads to high propagation losses. Here, it is shown that propagation loss as low as 0.42 dB cm−1 can be achieved using foundry compatible processes by solely reducing waveguide surface roughness. By postprocessing the fabricated devices using rapid thermal anneal (RTA) and furnace anneal, propagation losses down to 0.28 dB cm−1 and 0.06 dB cm−1, respectively, are achieved. These low losses are comparable to the conventional devices using high temperature, high‐stress LPCVD films. The dispersion of the devices is also tuned, and it is proved that these devices can be used for linear and nonlinear applications. Low threshold parametric oscillation, broadband frequency combs, and narrow‐linewidth laser are demonstrated. This work demonstrates the feasibility of scalable photonic systems based on foundries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal recycling casting is an alternative for the development of the foundry industry in Indonesia. The use of scrap metal as industrial raw material is increasing, so that it becomes a trading commodity and encourages the development of metal smelting businesses. The objective is to study the metal casting process of the B3 × 7 inches pulley using the sand casting method and to analyze the defects that appear on the B3 × 7 inch pulley. Pulley is one of the casting products with materials from cast iron which is used as a machine propulsion tool. The raw material from cast iron which is produced itself consists of scrap left over from smelting, gram, charcoal, silica and the addition of slag remover. The resulting cast iron is melted in an induction furnace at a temperature of 1350 - 1450°C. The smelting results are then poured into wet sand molds using a ladle, then the castings are cleaned and checked for defects (quality control) prior to machining and finishing processes. Carried out product analysis and found casting defects that occurred due to external and internal factors such as defects in air voids, crack defects, and collapsed molds (kataochi). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Soho Manufactory, Mint and Foundry, West Midlands: Where Boulton, Watt and Murdoch Made History By George Demidowicz. "Review of The Soho Manufactory, Mint and Foundry, West Midlands: Where Boulton, Watt and Murdoch Made History by George Demidowicz.". [Extracted from the article]

Given the ubiquity of electronic devices and the urgent need to decrease our footprint in the context of global warming and planetary boundaries, it becomes critical to better quantify the environmental impacts of integrated circuit (IC) production. Our work addresses this question in three successive steps. First, we carry out a review of the data available since 2010 from four different literature categories, i.e., foundry reports, industry roadmaps, scientific literature, and life-cycle assessment databases. Then, we leverage the 27 identified sources to perform both a qualitative and quantitative analysis. We propose 10 features for characterizing the scope of studies while focusing on environmental indicators normalized per cm2, i.e., energy consumption, carbon footprint and water consumption. The analysis results highlight a clear increasing trend of the environmental footprint with CMOS technology downscaling below $0.13~\mu \text{m}$ , despite a significant variation between the sources mainly due to scope mismatch. Finally, we show that environmental impacts per cm2 did not significantly decrease compared to historical values from 1980–2010, whereas the total silicon area produced keeps on increasing by 3.6%/year. Consequently, this work calls for urgently rethinking the road ahead with sobriety to effectively decrease the absolute environmental footprint of the IC production sub-sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systems for refining and handling foundries have evolved rapidly in recent years. However, the South African foundry industry has been contracting since 2007, when its annual output was at 660 400 tonnes. The objective of the current study was to investigate productivity improvement measures that would contribute in improving the productivity of Gauteng foundries. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was used for the study, and a purposive sampling technique was chosen to provide insight into the specific study. The quantitative data obtained from the study was analysed using several statistical tools. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation of 23 Likert-scale questions in the questionnaire was performed on data gathered from 143 participants. Factors with eigen values greater than 1 were retained using the Kaiser selection criterion. These factors were related to foundry management and leadership, labour, and machinery. Analysis of the reliability of the results indicated that Cronbach’s alpha for all thirty productivity factors was 0.9472. This α ≥ 0.70 indicated a good consistency in the selected items in the questionnaire. Based on the results, a proposed productivity framework was developed, contemplating the integration of lean thinking, manufacturing tools, and the Deming cycle, and providing a systematic and holistic approach to problem-solving through the application of the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle in the foundry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problems of establishing a new foundry in Kazakhstan utilizing Lost-foam casting technology are discussed in this article. The study's main objectives are to determine the technical and financial viability of arranging such production in the country. Calculations of the manufacturing program were carried out as part of the study, and a financial-economic model of the project was developed. The research shows that establishing such a foundry is feasible, and the project may be recommended for execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]