The present invention relates to a method for the layer-by-layer production of a cured three- dimensional shaped body, wherein the method comprises at least: (i) providing a binder comprising at least the following components: a) monomeric furfuryl alcohol and optionally a resin component comprising at least a furan resin, wherein about 60% by weight to 100% by weight of monomeric furfuryl alcohol, based on the sum of monomeric furfuryl alcohol and resin component are present in the binder, and b) a hardener component selected from methanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, and mixtures thereof, (ii) providing a layer of a refractory molding material to provide a molding material layer, (iii) selectively applying a component a) or b) of the binder separately from the refractory molding material to at least a part of the molding material layer, (iv) applying the other component of the binder separately from the component mentioned in step (iii), wherein step (iv) can be carried out before or after step (iii), or step (iv) can be combined with step (ii), and (v) optionally repeating steps (ii), (iii), and (iv) once or several times. Shaped bodies obtainable thereby as well as their use are disclosed as well.

A core quality estimation system that estimates quality of a core to be formed by filling a mold with kneaded sand produced by kneading in a kneading tank and heating the kneaded sand includes a computer that executes operations of acquiring mold temperature information of the mold, acquiring environmental information regarding a surrounding environment in which the core is formed, and estimating the quality of the core based on the mold temperature information and the environmental information.

A core quality estimation system that estimates quality of a core to be formed by filling a mold with kneaded sand produced by kneading in a kneading tank and heating the kneaded sand includes a computer that executes operations of acquiring mold temperature information of the mold, acquiring environmental information regarding a surrounding environment in which the core is formed, and estimating the quality of the core based on the mold temperature information and the environmental information.

A ceramic core includes sintered ceramic powder and a hole opening on a surface of the ceramic core and having an opening portion with a maximum size of 100 μm or less. A manufacturing method for a ceramic core includes: preparing an injection molding composition by mixing ceramic powder and a binder; manufacturing a ceramic compact by performing the injection molding of the injection molding composition; and manufacturing a ceramic core by sintering the ceramic compact, wherein cumulative percentage of coarse powder with a particle diameter of more than 50 μm included in the ceramic powder is 30% or less on an integrated volume particle size distribution curve of the ceramic powder.

A ceramic core includes sintered ceramic powder and a hole opening on a surface of the ceramic core and having an opening portion with a maximum size of 100 μm or less. A manufacturing method for a ceramic core includes: preparing an injection molding composition by mixing ceramic powder and a binder; manufacturing a ceramic compact by performing the injection molding of the injection molding composition; and manufacturing a ceramic core by sintering the ceramic compact, wherein cumulative percentage of coarse powder with a particle diameter of more than 50 μm included in the ceramic powder is 30% or less on an integrated volume particle size distribution curve of the ceramic powder.

A mold system and method for forming a casting article for investment casting is disclosed. The mold system includes a mold for receiving therein a selected core chosen from a plurality of varied cores. The mold includes a plurality of separable mold portions that are coupleable together to create the mold and configured to form a sacrificial material from a sacrificial material fluid about the selected core. At least one selected separable mold portion of the plurality of separable mold portions includes a set of varied interchangeable versions of the at least one selected separable mold portion. Each varied interchangeable version of the selected separable mold portion is configured to accommodate a different core of the plurality of varied cores. A number of systems for controlling a temperature of the mold are also disclosed.

A mold system and method for forming a casting article for investment casting is disclosed. The mold system includes a mold for receiving therein a selected core chosen from a plurality of varied cores. The mold includes a plurality of separable mold portions that are coupleable together to create the mold and configured to form a sacrificial material from a sacrificial material fluid about the selected core. At least one selected separable mold portion of the plurality of separable mold portions includes a set of varied interchangeable versions of the at least one selected separable mold portion. Each varied interchangeable version of the selected separable mold portion is configured to accommodate a different core of the plurality of varied cores. A number of systems for controlling a temperature of the mold are also disclosed.

A method is for producing a profile segment of a segmented casting-vulcanizing mold for vehicle tires, the molding area of which molds a segment of the tread profile of a tire to be vulcanized, including the steps: creating a rigid model segment having a casing-like tread surface; milling the profile positive of the tread into the casing-like tread surface of the model segment to obtain the master model; creating a flexible impression from the master model; creating a rigid plaster cast from the impression to form a casting core segment; casting all of the annular, placed-together casting core segments with an aluminium-magnesium alloy to obtain a vulcanizing mold, subsequently divided into profile segments. A plasma coating is applied to the tread of the model segment, into which the profile positive of the tread is subsequently milled to obtain the master model. Plasma coating gives the master model a defined roughness.

A method is for producing a profile segment of a segmented casting-vulcanizing mold for vehicle tires, the molding area of which molds a segment of the tread profile of a tire to be vulcanized, including the steps: creating a rigid model segment having a casing-like tread surface; milling the profile positive of the tread into the casing-like tread surface of the model segment to obtain the master model; creating a flexible impression from the master model; creating a rigid plaster cast from the impression to form a casting core segment; casting all of the annular, placed-together casting core segments with an aluminium-magnesium alloy to obtain a vulcanizing mold, subsequently divided into profile segments. A plasma coating is applied to the tread of the model segment, into which the profile positive of the tread is subsequently milled to obtain the master model. Plasma coating gives the master model a defined roughness.

This piston includes a low thermal conductivity part comprising: a porous member made of a borosilicate glass that has a lower thermal conductivity than the piston base material made of an aluminum alloy material that is the base material impregnated into the porous member. A molded object obtained from a first powder (glass powder) and a second powder (sodium chloride powder) is put in hot water to dissolve away the second powder and form pores in the porous member. The aluminum alloy material is impregnated into these pores to unite the porous member to the piston base material. Furthermore, varnish containing polyimide, etc. is applied to the upper surface of the porous member and impregnated into the pores with a varnish impregnation device assisted by vacuum drawing and atmospheric pressure, thereby preventing the pores from remaining vacant. Due to this, deterioration in exhaust emission performance can be prevented.