Apparatus and methods for making a sand core in a core box are provided. According to one embodiment, the method includes introducing into a cavity of the core box a sand-binder mixture, the sand-binder mixture being introduced into the cavity through an inlet conduit of the core box. Pressurized air is then introduced into the cavity while a flow rate of the pressurized air is measured in a first air flow path upstream the core box. A control unit automatically alters the degree of opening of an electronically controlled flow regulator located in a second air flow path located downstream an outlet conduit of the core box depending on the measured flow rate to regulate the flow of pressurized air into the cavity of the core box.

The invention relates to an aqueous alkaline binder composition for curing with carbon dioxide gas, comprising a negatively charged or uncharged phenol-aldehyde resin, comprising phenol groups, which is selected from the group consisting of resoles and mixtures comprising one or more resoles and also one or more novolacs, an oxyanion selected from the group consisting of borate ions, aluminate ions, stannate ions, zirconate ions, titanate ions, and mixtures thereof, for forming a stable complex with the resole phenol-aldehyde resin, where the total molar amount of the phenol groups of the phenol-aldehyde resin in the aqueous alkaline binder composition is in the range from 1 to 3 mol/kg, based on the total mass of the aqueous alkaline binder composition, and where the phenol-aldehyde resin possesses an average molecular weight (Mw) in the range from 750 to 1200 g/mol, determined by means of gel permeation chromatography. The invention relates, moreover, to a corresponding use, to a molding mixture for producing a foundry molding, and also to a corresponding method for producing a foundry molding, and to a corresponding foundry molding.

A method for manufacturing a structure from a granular material, called sand, in particular a mold. A layer of sand is deposited. The layer of sand is selectively agglomerated by spraying, using a spray nozzle, an inorganic binder having an M2SiO3 type (meta)silicate dissolved in a solvent. Prior to the spraying, the inorganic binder is heated to a temperature to confer on it a viscosity less than 0.2 Pa.Math.s. A device for implementing the method is provided.

The invention relates to an aqueous alkaline binder composition for curing with carbon dioxide gas, comprising a negatively charged or uncharged phenol-aldehyde resin, comprising phenol groups, which is selected from the group consisting of resoles and mixtures comprising one or more resoles and also one or more novolacs, an oxyanion selected from the group consisting of borate ions, aluminate ions, stannate ions, zirconate ions, titanate ions, and mixtures thereof, for forming a stable complex with the resole phenol-aldehyde resin, and one or more silanes in a total amount in the range from 2.5 to 10 wt %, based on the total mass of the binder composition, where the total molar to amount of the phenol groups of the phenol-aldehyde resin in the aqueous alkaline binder composition is in the range from 1 to 3 mol/kg, based on the total mass of the aqueous alkaline binder composition. The invention relates, moreover, to a corresponding use, to a molding mixture for producing a foundry mold, and also to a corresponding method for producing a foundry mold, and to a corresponding foundry mold.

The invention relates to mold material mixtures containing an oxide of aluminum and an oxide of zirconium as particulate mixed metal oxide, in combination with refractory mold base materials and a water glass-based binder system. The mold material mixtures, also in the form of multicomponent systems, are used for the production of molds and cores for the foundry industry.

The invention relates to a method for producing a part using a deposition technique. A layered composite is built up in layers, the individual layers each containing particulate material and binding material as well as optionally, a treatment agent. The layers maintain a predetermined porosity. The layer composite is built up in the absence of hardening agent. Once construction is complete, the layer composite is hardened.

The invention relates to a method for producing lost cores or molded parts for the production of cast parts, in which a basic molding material is mixed with an alkali silicate or water glass binder and a lost core or a molded part for the production of cast parts is formed using a core shooter in a core box, wherein the alkali silicate or water glass binder contains an alkali silicate or water glass solution having a modulus of 1.5 to 3.5 and natural and/or synthetic additives in a proportion of 0.1 to 25% by weight measured with respect to the total amount of binder, with a particle size of less than 5 m and the natural and/or synthetic additives are at least aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate and sodium aluminum silicate, each having a proportion of 1 to 5% by weight measured with respect to the total amount of binder. The lost core or the other molded part is formed in an unheated core box, and the lost core thus formed or the molded part is cured using hot air.

Provided is a catalyst suitable for curing a composite resin composition that includes comprising a blend of at least two tertiary amines selected from dimethylethylamine (DMEA), diethylmethylamine (DEMA), dimethylisopropylamine (DMIPA), and dimethyl-n-propylamine (DMPA), where each of the at least two tertiary amines is present in the blend in an amount of not less than 10% by weight and not more than 90% by weight.

The present invention relates to investment casting moulds comprising a furnace dust, wherein said furnace dust comprises ZrO.sub.2 and/or Al.sub.2O.sub.3. The present invention also relates to investment casting moulds comprising a metal oxide dust comprising ZrO.sub.2 and one or more materials selected from alumina, silica and aluminosilicate, and wherein said metal oxide dust has a d.sub.50 of 10 m or less. The invention also relates to compositions for the production of investment casting moulds, the use of dusts in the formation of investment casting moulds, and the use of investment casting moulds of the invention.

The subject matter of the present invention is a binder system containing blocked tertiary amines or amidines as co-catalysts for a polyurethane cold-box application. It also relates to the molding material mixtures produced using such a binder system further comprising volatile tertiary amines, a method for producing the molding material mixtures, and the cores and molds made from the molding material mixtures according to the cold-box process.