Sand Mold Additive Balances Foaming and Moisture Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sand mold-forming compositions with moisture-resistant agents suffer from reduced foaming properties and fluidity, making it difficult to create sand molds with both excellent moisture resistance and filling properties for complex internal structures.

Innovation Solution

A sand mold-forming additive comprising an ionic surfactant, an inorganic alkali metal compound, and a lithium compound, specifically sodium chloride or sodium sulfate, combined with alkyl sulfonic acid metal salts, alkyl sulfuric acid metal salts, and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfuric acid ester metal salts, which improves both foaming properties and moisture resistance when used in conjunction with a silicate binder and sand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a moisture resistant agent (lithium salt or ionic compound) is added to improve moisture resistance, then moisture resistance is improved, but the composition is less likely to foam, thereby decreasing fluidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture resistanceVSAvoidfluidity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing a specific inorganic alkali metal compound (sodium chloride or sodium sulfate) at controlled ratios (0.01-2.00 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of ionic surfactant). This parameter adjustment modifies the foaming characteristics of the composition while preserving moisture resistance, resolving the contradiction between improved moisture resistance and maintained fluidity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite additive system combining ionic surfactant, inorganic alkali metal compound, and optional lithium compound. This composite material works synergistically to maintain both foaming capability (for fluidity) and moisture resistance, overcoming the limitation of using single-component moisture resistant agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If foaming agent is used to enhance fluidity for complex internal structures, then fluidity is improved, but moisture resistance decreases due to low moisture resistance of foamed compositions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefluidityVSAvoidmoisture resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the chemical composition parameters by incorporating inorganic alkali metal compound at specific ratios, which modifies the surface tension and foaming characteristics of the composition. This enables the composition to maintain both good fluidity (through controlled foaming) and moisture resistance simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The inorganic alkali metal compound acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the ionic surfactant (which provides foaming) and the lithium compound (which provides moisture resistance). This intermediary enables synergistic interaction, allowing the composition to achieve both fluidity and moisture resistance that neither component could achieve alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 additive achieves a balance between excellent foaming properties and moisture resistance, enabling the production of sand molds with enhanced fluidity and strength, suitable for complex internal structures.

Implementation Method 1

a foaming agent is used to foam the composition to enhance fluidity thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Implementation Method 2

an ionic surfactant (A)... alkyl sulfonic acid metal salt, alkyl sulfuric acid metal salt, and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfuric acid ester metal salt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

an ionic compound that is ion-exchanged or gelled with an alkali silicate as a moisture resistant agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 4

an ionic compound that is ion-exchanged or gelled with an alkali silicate as a moisture resistant agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Data Source

PatentUS20240042513A1Sand mold-forming additive, sand mold-forming composition, sand mold manufacturing method, and sand mold
Publication Date: 2024.02.08 SINTOKOGIO LTD

AI summary

A sand mold-forming additive capable of making a sand mold-forming composition having excellent forming property and a sand mold having excellent moisture resistance is provided. The sand mold-forming additive contains 0.01-2.00 parts by weight of an inorganic alkali metal compound (B) per 100 parts by weight of anionic surfactant (A). The inorganic alkali metal compound (B) is at least one selected from sodium chloride and sodium sulfate. The ionic surfactant (A) is preferably at least one selected from alkyl sulfonic acid metal salts (A1), alkyl sulfuric acid metal salts (A2), and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfuric acid ester metal salts (A3).