The present invention relates to the use of closed-pore microspheres of expanded perlite as a filler for producing moldings for the foundry industry, to a composition for producing moldings for the foundry industry, comprising closed-pore microspheres of expanded perlite as a filler, and a binder, the binder being selected from the group consisting of water glass, phenol-formaldehyde resins, two-component systems comprising as reactants a polyisocyanate and a polyol component containing free hydroxyl groups (OH groups), and starch, and also to moldings for the foundry industry and to a process for producing a molding for the foundry industry.

A slurry for forming a mold includes a silica sol as a dispersion medium and niobia-stabilized zirconia dispersed in the silica sol.

A mullite shell mold for casting includes a facecoat layer containing ceramic flour. The mullite shell mold also includes a first layer disposed on the facecoat layer. The first layer can contain sintered ceramic media. The facecoat layer and the first layer can each contain less than 1 wt % crystalline silica.

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.

Investment casting shell composition binders comprising hydrophilic fibrils having an average diameter between about 1 nm and about less than 1 ?m can be used for the preparation of investment casting shell compositions or slurries. The investment casting shell binders and compositions can be used in an investment casting process to produce investment casting shells with improved shell build thickness and strength.

The invention relates to lithium-containing molding material mixtures comprising a refractory main molding material, an inorganic binder, and amorphous silicon dioxide as an additive in the production of molds and cores for metal casting. The invention further relates to a method for producing molds and cores using the molding material mixtures and to molds and cores produced according to the method.

Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for producing refractory products, and more particularly, to producing heated refractories, passive refractories, transition plates, moldable refractories, and accessories such as heated spouts, heated pins, thimbles, and dams. A heated refractory channel as disclosed herein may include a working surface to contain molten metal within the channel; a core adjacent to the working surface; one or more heating elements disposed within the core; and insulation, where the core is disposed between the working surface and the insulation. The one or more heating elements may be molded into the core. The heating elements may be electrical resistance heating elements.

The present invention relates to the use of closed-pore microspheres of expanded perlite as a filler for producing moldings for the foundry industry, to a composition for producing moldings for the foundry industry, comprising closed-pore microspheres of expanded perlite as a filler, and a binder, the binder being selected from the group consisting of water glass, phenol-formaldehyde resins, two-component systems comprising as reactants a polyisocyanate and a polyol component containing free hydroxyl groups (OH groups), and starch, and also to moldings for the foundry industry and to a process for producing a molding for the foundry industry.

A castable refractory material for use in the manufacture of refractory products including fused silica, ceramic fiber, microsilica and a bonding material comprising colloidal silica.

Provided are slurry compositions and methods for producing investment casting molds. These compositions include a refractory material, a binder, a solvent, and a thixotropic agent comprising a polymer emulsion. Implementation of these slurry compositions enables a reduction in the number of backup layers in an investment casting shell, while retaining similar viscosity characteristics and similar or greater strength characteristics in the finished investment mold.