Polyurethane Binder Additives for Foundry Sand Strength and Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Foundry binder systems face challenges in achieving high initial strength and extended sand lifespan while avoiding chlorine-containing compounds that pose health risks and corrosion issues, and in maintaining storage stability and thermal resistance to reduce surface defects in castings.

Innovation Solution

A mixture comprising methanesulfonic acid, esters of phosphorus-oxygen acids, and silanes is used as an additive in the polyisocyanate component of a two-component binder system, replacing chlorosilanes and acid chlorides, to enhance sand life, storage stability, and thermal resistance without compromising strength or introducing harmful chlorides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If chlorosilanes and acid chlorides are used as additives in the binder system, then initial strength is improved, but health risks and corrosion issues arise due to chlorine-containing compounds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial strengthVSAvoidhealth risks and corrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes harmful chlorine-containing compounds (chlorosilanes and acid chlorides) from the binder system while replacing them with alternative additives that provide the necessary strength without the harmful effects. This extraction of the harmful element while maintaining the beneficial function directly resolves the contradiction between initial strength and health/safety concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful role of chlorine-containing compounds into a beneficial alternative system using non-chlorine-based additives. By developing a replacement system that achieves the same technical effect (strength enhancement) without the harmful side effects, the invention transforms a harmful approach into a safe one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Strength

If the binder system is made more reactive to achieve high initial strength, then sand life is reduced due to premature curing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial strengthVSAvoidsand life
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a multi-component additive system where each component contributes to different aspects of the curing behavior. The synergistic interaction between these components allows dynamic control of the reaction kinetics, enabling high initial strength development while maintaining adequate sand life through balanced reactivity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite additive system combining multiple substances (alternative to chlorosilanes and acid chlorides) that work synergistically. This composite approach allows optimization of both initial strength and sand life by combining the beneficial effects of different additives while avoiding their individual limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Duration of action of stationary object

If chlorine-containing compounds are used to extend sand life, then storage stability is improved, but thermal resistance and surface quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesand lifeVSAvoidsurface defects
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates chlorine-containing compounds from the binder system, replacing them with alternative additives that extend sand life without causing surface defects. This removal of the harmful element while maintaining the beneficial function (sand life extension) resolves the contradiction between sand life and surface quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If fast-curing binder systems are used to achieve high initial strength, then productivity is improved, but sand life is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring speedVSAvoidsand life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dynamically balanced additive system that controls the curing kinetics to achieve fast initial strength development while maintaining adequate sand life. The multi-component additive system allows optimization of the reaction rate profile, providing rapid curing for productivity while preventing premature complete curing that would reduce sand life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the binder system by introducing alternative additives that modify the curing characteristics. These parameter changes enable the system to achieve fast curing speed for improved productivity while simultaneously maintaining adequate sand life through controlled reactivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution extends sand life, improves storage stability, and reduces surface defects in castings by maintaining high initial and final strength, while eliminating health hazards and corrosion risks associated with chlorine-containing compounds.

Implementation Method 1

A mixture which can be produced by reacting a premix of (av) 1.0 to 50.0 percent by weight of methanesulfonic acid, (bv) one or more esters of one or more phosphorus-oxygen acids and (cv) one or more silanes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The two components are usually mixed with a molding base material, preferably sand, in the mixture the components react to form a cured polyurethane binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolyaddition reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

typically in the presence of catalysts, which ensure rapid conversion and thus a sufficiently short curing time. In addition to other substances such as organometallic compounds, suitable catalysts include primarily tertiary amines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP2812374B1Cold-box-binder systems and mixtures for use as additives for such systems
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 HUTTENES-ALBERTUS CHEMISCHE WERKE GMBH

AI summary

A mixture is described which can be produced by causing a reaction of a precursor mixture of (av) methanesulfonic acid (bv) one or more esters of one or more phosphorus oxoacids and (cv) one or more silanes. The invention additionally relates to the usage of said mixtures as additives for the polyisocyanate component of a two-component binder system for producing a polyurethane resin. The invention further relates to a solution containing polyisocyanate for usage as a component of a moulding material binder system, to the usage of a solution containing polyisocyanate as the polyisocyanate component of a two-component binder system for producing a polyurethane resin and to corresponding two-component binder systems for producing a polyurethane resin.