A bio-based binder system for use in preparing foundry molds. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes the use of a) a polyermizable hydroxyl-containing component comprising a saccharide, b) an isocyanate component, and c) a catalyst, and preferably amine catalyst, component adapted to catalyze the polymerization of a) and b), in the presence of a foundry aggregate such as sand. The system can be used in any suitable manner, including in either a cold box process or no bake process as described herein.

Method of designing and manufacturing a distributor bar for use in a production line comprising a mixing head for providing a viscous foamable liquid mixture, a laminator with a predefined speed of at least 20 m/min, the distributor bar having a central inlet fluidly connected to a number of outlets via a main channel. The method comprises: choosing (3001) a geometry for the distributor bar and defining a set of geometrical parameters; assigning (3002) values to said parameters; creating (3003) a virtual model; simulating (3005) flow in said model by performing a Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation (CFD), taking into account (3004) a non-Newtonian shear thinning model; e) evaluating the simulated flow; building (2007) a physical distributor bar. A distributor bar, a production line, and a computer program product.

Molding material mixes that contain a polyurethane binder based on phenolic resins of the benzyl ether type and polyisocyanates are characterized by the inclusion of a polybutadiene derivative. In one case, the polybutadiene derivative has epoxide groups and hydroxyl groups. In another case, the polybutadiene derivative has succinic acid anhydride groups. Molds, cores and risers are produced using these molding material mixes. Inclusion of the polybutadiene derivatives results in a reduction of sand adhesions in the molding process.

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 description is given of a two-component binder system for use in the polyurethane cold box process, a mixture for curing by contacting with a tertiary amine, a method for producing a feeder, a foundry mold or a foundry core, and also feeders, foundry molds and foundry cores producible by this method, and the use of a two-component binder system of the invention or of a mixture of the invention for binding a mold raw material or a mixture of mold raw materials in the polyurethane cold box process.

The present invention relates to a solvent system characterized by the fact that is comprises one or more dioxolane-derived esters of formula I ##STR00001##
where R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different, selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and phenyl, and n is an integer between 1 and 5.

A description is given of a use of a composition comprising an ortho-fused phenolic resole in an amount of up to 60 wt %; as first solvent for the ortho-fused phenolic resole, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of alkyl silicates, alkyl silicate oligomers and mixtures thereof, the total amount of these compounds being greater than 30 wt %; optionally one or more further solvents for the ortho-fused phenolic resole; optionally one or more further additives; the weight percentages being based on the total amount of the composition, as a binder component for producing feeder elements by the cold box process. A description is also given of the use of a two-component binder system for producing feeder elements by the cold box process, and of a method for producing a feeder element for the foundry industry, and also of a feeder element.

The invention proposes the following production step sequence, in order that foundry cores, which consist of a mould material which is mixed from a binder and a mould sand, as well as optionally added additives, which are also moulded in a complex way or are optimised with regard to their quality and which are provided for casting cast parts, can be produced simply by: a) moulding the foundry core by introducing the mould material into a foundry core mould; b) hardening the mould material; c) removing the foundry core from the foundry core mould; d) heating the foundry core to a deformation temperature; e) deforming the heated foundry core by applying a deformation force to the foundry core; and f) cooling the foundry core.

The invention relates to a method of producing an article selected from the group consisting of casting mold, core, feeder and molding compound for production of part of a casting mold, core or feeder, comprising the following steps: (S1) producing or providing in the foundry: a first component (A), comprising a first binder component (b1) of a binder system and an amount of a first mold base material and, spatially separated therefrom, a second component (B), comprising a second binder component (b2) of the binder system and an amount of a second mold base material wherein the first binder component (b1) and the second binder component (b2) are suitable for chemical reaction with one another and for curing of a mixture of the first component (A) and the second component (B), (S2) mixing by contacting the first component (A) and the second component (B) in a particular mass ratio, so as to result in a self-curing molding compound.

A polyurethane system for use as a binder in producing foundry molds and cores in metal casting, especially in a cold box process, has a polyol component with one or more polyols having at least two OH groups per molecule, with at least one phenol resin, and an isocyanate component. Particularly, the isocyanate component includes a reaction product of at least one cyclic amine with at least one polyisocyanate having at least two NCO groups per molecule. Each cyclic amine is characterized as an amine having at least one NH group and from four to six carbon atoms. Examples of the cyclic amine include ?-caprolactam and/or 3,5-dimethylpyrazole. Observed advantages include better humidity resistance and improved mold release properties.