Investment casting shell composition binders comprising hydrophilic fibrils having an average diameter between about 1 nm and about less than 1 μm 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.

An expandable aggregate mixture for a mold, which contains an aggregate, a water-soluble binder, a water-soluble foaming agent, water, and spherical metal oxide particles.

An expandable aggregate mixture for a mold, which contains an aggregate, a water-soluble binder, a water-soluble foaming agent, water, and spherical metal oxide particles.

A casting green sand mold comprising at least a pair of green sand mold parts each having a cavity portion, which are stacked with their cavity portions aligned to form a metal-melt-receiving cavity; each of the green sand mold parts being formed by casting sand containing a binder and water; a hardening-resin-based coating layer being formed on at least the cavity portion of each green sand mold part; the coating layer having gas-permeable pores having sufficient permeability to permit a gas generated by pouring a metal melt to escape; and a water content in a surface layer including the coating layer in a range from the cavity surface to the depth of 5 mm being smaller than that in the inner portion of the green sand mold.

A casting green sand mold comprising at least a pair of green sand mold parts each having a cavity portion, which are stacked with their cavity portions aligned to form a metal-melt-receiving cavity; each of the green sand mold parts being formed by casting sand containing a binder and water; a hardening-resin-based coating layer being formed on at least the cavity portion of each green sand mold part; the coating layer having gas-permeable pores having sufficient permeability to permit a gas generated by pouring a metal melt to escape; and a water content in a surface layer including the coating layer in a range from the cavity surface to the depth of 5 mm being smaller than that in the inner portion of the green sand mold.

An aggregate mixture for a mold, the aggregate mixture including an aggregate, a water-soluble binder, a water-soluble foaming agent, an aqueous mold release agent, and water.

The present disclosure includes binder systems for making foundry articles. The binder systems may comprise a humic substance-containing component that comprise lignite, an isocyanate component, and a catalyst component. The binder systems may be mixed with an aggregate (e.g., sand) for making foundry articles such as molds and cores. Also disclosed herein are methods of making foundry articles using the binder systems.

The present disclosure includes binder systems for making foundry articles. The binder systems may comprise a humic substance-containing component that comprise lignite, an isocyanate component, and a catalyst component. The binder systems may be mixed with an aggregate (e.g., sand) for making foundry articles such as molds and cores. Also disclosed herein are methods of making foundry articles using the binder systems.

Loose particulate materials can be problematic in various aspects. For example, loose particulate materials may generate dust or be difficult to consolidate together. Fines in loose particulate materials may also be an issue. Coated particulates may alleviate some of the foregoing issues. Suitable coated particulates may comprise a particulate material comprising sand or a ceramic, and a polysaccharide composition coated upon the particulate material, the polysaccharide composition comprising a functionalized polysaccharide. Other particulate materials such as wood chips and animal litter particulates may be coated with functionalized polysaccharides to achieve similar advantages.

Loose particulate materials can be problematic in various aspects. For example, loose particulate materials may generate dust or be difficult to consolidate together. Fines in loose particulate materials may also be an issue. Coated particulates may alleviate some of the foregoing issues. Suitable coated particulates may comprise a particulate material comprising sand or a ceramic, and a polysaccharide composition coated upon the particulate material, the polysaccharide composition comprising a functionalized polysaccharide. Other particulate materials such as wood chips and animal litter particulates may be coated with functionalized polysaccharides to achieve similar advantages.