Sodium silicate is used as an adhesive for the manufacture of sand molds for pouring and the formation of molten metal.
And there are two systems for the work of these templates:
1 - Using a single silicate
2 - the presence of carbon dioxide, which is working its interaction with the silicate to harden the templates on the spot.
How it works
Silicates are used as binders to form molds and cores from sand, into which molten metal is poured. Sugars, carbohydrates and/or surfactants are usually added to the silicate to improve shakeout (removal of metal part from mold) and to obtain better sand reclamation. Silicates are mixed with sands and reacted with either CO2 gas or esters to set (acid-set systems). Silicates have these advantages:
- Quick, strong set with easy-to-handle materials
- Low VOCs during setting and pouring of metal
- Work with a variety of sand types and metals
- Easy storage and cleanup of materials
- Environmentally friendly system