This study shows the results of the investigation of the strength performance, and residual strength of a single component inorganic binder

system Cast Clean S27®. The study was conducted using three different foundry sand sources in South Africa. Sample A is an alluvial

coastal sample, sample B is an alluvial riverbed sample and Sample C is a blasted sample from a consolidated quartzite rock. The binder

was also cured using three different curing mechanisms. The aim of the investigation was to determine the variation of strength

performance and residual strength between the different South African sand sources based upon the physical and chemical properties of

the sand sources. The moulding sand was prepared using three possible curing mechanisms which are carbon dioxide curing, ester curing

and heat curing. The strength measurements were determined by bending strength. Sample A and sample C sand had good strength

development. Sample B sand had inferior strength development and excellent high temperature residual strength. The study showed that

the single component inorganic binders have good strength development and low residual strength. The silica sand properties have major

contributing factors on both strength development and residual strength. The degree of influence of silica sand properties on strength

performance and residual strength is dependent on the time of curing and method of curing.

One of the purposes of the application of chemically modified inorganic binders is to improve knocking out properties and the related reclamability with previously used in foundry inorganic binder (water glass), which allowing the use of ecological binders for casting nonferrous metals. Good knocking out properties of the sands is directly related to the waste sands reclamability, which is a necessary condition of effective waste management. Reclamation of moulding and core sands is a fundamental and effective way to manage waste on site at the foundry, in accordance with the Environmental Guidelines. Therefore, studies of reclamation of waste moulding and core sands with new types of inorganic binders (developed within the framework of the project) were carried out. These studies allowed to determine the degree of recovery of useful, material, what the reclaimed sand is, and the degree of its use in the production process. The article presents these results of investigation. They are a part of broader research programme executed under the project POIG.01.01.02-00- 015/09 "Advanced materials and technologies".

The paper presents the results of an investigation of the gases emission of moulding sands with an inorganic (geopolymer) binder with a relaxation additive, whose main task is to reduce the final (residual) strength and improves knocking-out properties of moulding sand. The moulding sand without a relaxation additive was the reference point. The research was carried out using in accordance with the procedure developed at the Faculty of Foundry Engineering of AGH - University of Science and Technology, on the patented stand for determining gas emissions. Quantification of BTEX compounds was performed involving gas chromatography method (GC).The study showed that the introduction of relaxation additive has no negative impact on gas emissions - both in terms of the total amount of gases generated, as well as emissions of BTEX compounds. Among the BTEX compounds, only benzene is emitted from the tested moulding sands. Its emission is associated with the introduction a small amount of an organic hardener from the group of esters.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the possibility of using moulding sands based on inorganic binders hardened in a microwave chamber in the technology of ablation casting of aluminium alloys. The essence of the ablation casting technology consists in this that a mould with a water-soluble binder is continuously washed with water immediately after being poured with liquid alloy until its complete erosion takes place. The application of an environmentally friendly inorganic binder improves the ecology of the whole process, while microwave hardening of moulding sands allows moulds to be made from the sand mixture containing only a small amount of binder.

The studies described in this article included microwave-hardened sand mixtures containing the addition of selected inorganic binders available on the market. The strength of the sands with selected binders added in an amount of 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 parts by mass was tested. As a next step, the sand mixtures with the strength optimal for ablation casting technology, i.e. about 1.5 MPa, were selected and tested for the gas forming tendency. In the four selected sand mixtures, changes occurring in the samples during heating were traced. Tests also included mould response to the destructive effect of ablation medium, which consisted in the measurement of time necessary for moulds to disintegrate while washed with water. Tests have shown the possibility of using environmentally friendly, microwave-hardened moulding sands in ablation casting of aluminium alloys.