A novel measurement method to study the thermal aspects of moulding mixture decomposition

A wide variety of moulding mixtures are extensively used in the process of sand casting of metal components. The sector is continuously developing in production volume, moreover the expectations from the customers are increasing on monthly basis, also from the quality point of view. Even though mould and core manufacturing are well-organized processes in most foundries, technological problems still appear which may lead to casting defects. These trends are forcing metal casters to come up with fitting strategies to solve their daily production challenges, while their suppliers are expected to keep up the continuous development of their existing foundry products and to find innovative solutions. Research on moulding materials and their properties must also take the step forward accordingly to generate the necessary new knowledge. This paper summarizes the latest results of a novel measurement method suitable for studying the degradation characteristics of different moulding materials from a new perspective. The fundamentals of the method are based on thermal analysis, focusing on the heat absorption behaviour of sand mixtures regardless of binder type/amount or manufacturing process.