Study on the impact of moulding parameters on the flow property of green sand mould

Abstract

ABSTRACT The efficiency of green sand mould determines the process performance of sand casting. It is important to have a high flowability level of the green sand to ensure a well-distributed green sand mould around the model cavities. The study's novelty lies in using the factorial design of experiments to correlate green sand flowability with moulding parameters and employing practical approaches. This method reveals how moulding parameter variations affect sand flowability and green sand behaviour under different conditions. The research examined different factors involving sand grain size, water content, bentonite binder material content, and mixing time. Two experimental methods were used to evaluate the variation of sand moulding parameters on the flowability of the green sand. The first method used a Levelink apparatus to extrude the green sand mixture through four holes. The second method based on the relative hardness of the graded sand samples is related to the Orlov test. The results obtained showed a good relationship between these two tests for determining the flowability of the green sand. Enhancing flowability was carried out by increasing the grain size of the sand used, and reducing the water ratio, bentonite percentage, and mixing time.