Mold Surface Research Articles

An improved approach to compensating for cure‐induced deformation to manufacture composite aircraft skin accurately

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to compensate for the cure‐induced deformation to manufacture composite aircraft skin with variable curvature accurately. Firstly, a finite element analysis (FEA) method appropriate for curing simulation was described. Then, the discrete curvature‐based displacement adjustment (DC‐DA) method for mold surface compensation was proposed. The DC‐DA method utilizes the discrete curvature of the section points to obtain a smooth compensated curve. Finally, a skin part was selected to prove its effectiveness. The experimental results showed that after the mold's surface was modified by the DC‐DA method with the FEA‐predicting deformation as input, the forming shape could meet the requirement of the part accuracy in one cycle. The DC‐DA method was also compared with the displacement adjustment (DA) method and proved to be more efficient for the compensation of composite skin with variable curvature.Highlights The FEA is appropriate for the calculation of the skin's curing deformation. The DC‐DA method is efficient for compensating for the skin's deformation. The shape of the case part could meet the requirement of accuracy in one cycle.

Surface Molding Hydrogel Film Initiated by ZIF-8 with Ethylene Adsorption Performance for Preserving Perishable Fruits.

The quality deterioration of postharvest fruits is greatly influenced by ethylene, leading to food wastage worldwide. Therefore, it is urgent to develop an efficient packaging strategy to reduce ethylene concentration and prolong the shelf life of perishable fruits. In this work, a surface-molding hydrogel film was created using ZIF-8 in combination with carboxymethyl starch (CMS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). Specifically, ZIF-8 is first anchored on CMS and then rapidly cross-linked in situ with CMCS, forming ZIF-8@CC on the fruit surface (within 10 s). The perfect tight-fitting effects of ZIF-8@CC were observed on various fruit surfaces with different roughness (Ra: ranges from 102 to 308 nm). ZIF-8@CC could absorb 57.3% endogenous ethylene from bananas, and the interaction mechanism between ethylene and ZIF-8 was studied by molecular dynamics simulations, providing insights into the ethylene adsorption capacity of ZIF-8@CC. Moreover, ZIF-8@CC presented excellent antibacterial properties and achieved satisfactory ultralong preservation effects on both nonclimatic and climatic fruits (12 days for strawberries and 14 days for bananas) at room temperature. Importantly, ZIF-8@CC is easily removed, washed, and degradable. These findings offer an efficient and potential food packing material with multifunctional properties for preserving perishable fruits.

Full‐field effect of flow‐induced fiber orientation during compression molding of carbon fiber sheet molding compounds

AbstractAn image‐based fiber orientation analysis technique has been employed to study the effect of initial charge coverage and preferential fiber alignment on the flow‐induced fiber orientations in carbon fiber sheet molding compounds (SMCs). The initial charge coverage area exhibited minimal fiber reorientation while significant fiber alignment in the flow direction was observed in the regions of greatest flow. Novel subsurface analysis using the same full‐field orientation analysis technique also showed the presence of a skin‐core structure with greater flow‐induced fiber alignment at the mold surfaces, while the core retained more of the initial fiber orientation distribution. Edge effects were also revealed by this analysis at the mold walls. Tensile testing from two orthogonal directions showed that panels molded from lower charge coverage resulted in better mechanical performance and lower anisotropy. Moreover, by encouraging charge flow in the preform's preferential alignment direction, high tensile stiffness and strength in the preferred direction were achieved (56.7 GPa and 238.9 MPa, respectively) at 30% fiber volume fraction. This provides a practical demonstration of the value in controlling fiber orientation, with respect to charge positioning and mold flow, to maximize and tailor the composite performance of SMCs typically used for automotive applications.Highlights Low‐cost scanning technique is extended to assess internal fiber orientations Full‐field orientations are measured before and after molding Investigation of how charge size and shape can affect orientations Combining effects of flow and initial orientation to tailor SMC performance Circular statistics provides a thorough analysis of orientation distributions

Continuous Casting Slab Mold: Key Role of Nozzle Immersion Depth.

Based on a physical water model with a scaling factor of 0.5 and a coupled flow-heat transfer-solidification numerical model, this study investigates the influence of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) depth on the mold surface behavior, slag entrapment, internal flow field, temperature distribution, and initial solidification behavior in slab casting. The results indicate that when the SEN depth is too shallow (80 mm), the slag layer on the narrow face is thin, leading to slag entrapment. Within a certain range of SEN depths (less than 170 mm), increasing the SEN depth reduces the impact on the mold walls, shortening the "plateau period" of stagnated growth on the narrow face shell. This allows the upper recirculation flow to develop more fully, resulting in an increase in the surface flow velocity and an expansion in the high-temperature region near the meniscus, which promotes uniform slag melting but also heightens the risk of slag entrainment due to shear stress at the liquid surface (with 110 mm being the most stable condition). As the SEN depth continues to increase, the surface flow velocity gradually decreases, and the maximum fluctuation in the liquid surface diminishes, while the full development of the upper recirculation zone leads to a higher and more uniform meniscus temperature. This suggests that in practical production, it is advisable to avoid this critical SEN depth. Instead, the immersion depth should be controlled at a slightly shallower position (around 110 mm) or a deeper position (around 190 mm).

Characterization of spent nuclear fuel canister surface roughness using surface replicating molds

In this study we present a replication method to determine surface roughness and to identify surface features when a sample cannot be directly analyzed by conventional techniques. As a demonstration, this method was applied to an unused spent nuclear fuel dry storage canister to determine variation across different surface features. In this study, an initial material down-selection was performed to determine the best molding agent and determined that non-modified Polytek PlatSil23-75 provided the most accurate representation of the surface while providing good usability. Other materials that were considered include Polygel Brush-On 35 polyurethane rubber (with and without Pol-ease 2300 release agent), Polytek PlatSil73-25 silicone rubber (with and without PlatThix thickening agent and Pol-ease 2300 release agent), and Express STD vinylpolysiloxane impression putty. The ability of PlatSil73-25 to create an accurate surface replica was evaluated by creating surface molds of several locations on surface roughness standards representing ISO grade surfaces N3, N5, N7, and N8. Overall, the molds were able to accurately reproduce the expected roughness average (Ra) values, but systematically over-estimated the peak-valley maximum roughness (Rz) values. Using a 3D printed sample cell, several locations across the stainless steel spent nuclear fuel canister were sampled to determine the surface roughness. These measurements provided information regarding variability in normal surface roughness across the canister as well as a detailed evaluation on specific surface features (e.g., welds, grind marks, etc.). The results of these measurements can support development of dry storage canister ageing management programs, as surface roughness is an important factor for surface dust deposition and accumulation. This method can be applied more broadly to different surfaces beyond stainless steel to provide rapid, accurate surface replications for analytical evaluation by profilometry.

High dose rate brachytherapy for lip cancer with interstitial, surface, or a combination of interstitial and surface mold technique

High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) is now becoming more common than low-dose-rate and pulsed-dose-rate BT in the treatment of lip cancer. However, due to the limited history of HDR-BT, relatively few studies have been published. Two institutions (in Ukraine and the USA) reviewed their clinical outcomes of lip cancer patients treated with HDR-BT as monotherapy or in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). An interstitial (IS), surface custom mold (SC), or a combination of IS and SC (IS+SC) was used for treatments based on the depth of tumor invasion. Prescription doses were 24 Gy in 6 BID fractions when combined with 46-50 Gy of EBRT, 45-55 Gy in 9-10 BID fractions for IS and IS+SC monotherapy or 3 Gy × 16 daily fractions for SC monotherapy. A total of 33 cases of lip cancer were treated from 2015 to 2021. By using TNM staging classification, there were 14 stage I (42.4%), 15 stage II (45.5%), and 4 stage III (12.1%) lip cancers. Thirty-one patients (93.9%) had a complete response to the treatment. Only 2 patients (6.1%) displayed local recurrence. Grade 1, 2, and 3 acute toxicities were observed in 30.3%, 51.5%, and 18.2% of patients, respectively. Grade 1, 2, and 3 late toxicities were observed in 39.4%, 21.2%, and 0.0% of cases. Cosmetic results were excellent in 21.2%, good in 54.5%, fair in 18.2%, and poor in 6.1% of patients. HDR-BT is an effective and safe treatment for lip carcinomas with excellent local control, functional, and cosmetic outcomes and should be considered as a standard treatment.

Modeling spherulitic and fibrillar crystallization kinetics in injection molding: Analysis of process variables and morphological evolution

Injection molding of polypropylene was conducted using a heating device to control mold surface temperature over time. By varying the temperature and heating times, a significant effect on cavity pressures, temperatures, and morphology distribution in the resulting samples was obtained.The University of Salerno's UNISA code, a simulation model for injection molding, was used to simulate the experimental conditions. This code incorporates a crystallization kinetics model that accounts for the competing formation of spherulites and fibrils from the same amorphous material, considering the effects of temperature, pressure, and flow evolution during different stages of the process.The simulation results showed good agreement with experimental data for temperature evolutions within the mold and pressure variations at critical points during the filling, packing, and cooling stages. Additionally, the simulation consistently predicted the formation of a fibrillar layer near the mold wall. Overall, a comprehensive framework for understanding and simulating the injection molding process is provided, with relevant implications for the optimization of manufacturing conditions and improving part quality.

Crack characteristics of pulsed laser brazed diamond grinding wheel

Experiments on pulsed laser brazing of diamond grinding wheels were carried out in this paper. The crack characteristics and residual stress of brazed layer were detected and evaluated. The influence laws of pulse width, frequency, diamond mixing ratio, number of stacked layers, powder thickness and preheating temperature on crack characteristics were investigated. The pulsed laser characteristic coefficients (peak pulse power density/pulse interval time) and the correlation law between thermal stresses and cracks are discussed. The results show that the pulse width and frequency of the pulsed laser affect the cracking rate by varying the energy input and the time between pulses. The existence of a suitable value for the pulse characteristic coefficient corresponding to pulse width and frequency corresponds to a lower cracking rate. Thermal stress variations due to changes in process conditions at different diamond percentages, number of stacked layers, and preheating temperatures are the main causes of crack rate variations. Cracking is not only affected by thermal stresses, but also by the quality of the formed surface when pulsed laser brazing diamond to nickel–chromium alloy brazing material. For example, the main reason for the variation in cracking rate is the change in the morphology of the molded surface due to the variation in the thickness of the powder spread at different variations in the thickness of the powder spread.

Experimental study on the cushioning energy absorption characteristics of polymer materials resistant to seawater erosion in seismic damping layers

AbstractPolymer materials exhibit vibration damping properties, yet scant research exists on their applicability to submarine tunnels. This study investigates the dynamic characteristics of Polymer Materials Resistant to Seawater Erosion (hereafter referred to as PMRSE) under varying conditions of density, confining pressure, strain rate, and erosion duration through dynamic triaxial tests. The results reveal an increase in material strength with a rise in density; enhanced strength and ductility with increasing confining pressure; and augmented strength and yield stress in correspondence with heightened strain rates. As confining pressure ascends, the equivalent damping ratio of PMRSE gradually diminishes. SEM and EDS indicate a porous structure for PMRSE, with a molded surface skin formed post‐manufacturing to thwart seawater erosion. The strain energy storage and energy absorption evaluation of PMRSE demonstrate its excellence as an energy‐absorbing material. Eventually, employing a numerical simulation model for a specific submarine tunnel reveals that the presence of a damping layer absorbs seismic energy and enhances the stress conditions of the secondary lining. PMRSE manifests as a strain‐rate sensitive material unaffected by seawater corrosion, which exhibits deformation characteristics of low yield strength and long yield stage. Accordingly, PMRSE proves suitable for vibration damping in submarine tunnels.

2118: Extra-Mammary Paget's Disease: Initial Experience with Custom 3D printed Surface Mould Brachytherapy

2118: Extra-Mammary Paget's Disease: Initial Experience with Custom 3D printed Surface Mould Brachytherapy

Imparting semi-permanent demoldability to stainless steel mold using surface-initiated solution polymerization of stearyl methacrylate

The growing market demand for compact and precisely-designed polymeric products has raised challenges during the demolding stage of manufacturing. An increased contact area between the product and the mold increases adhesion, which reduces dimensional stability and aesthetics. Conventional solutions like surface roughness improvement or release agent coatings suffer from reduced productivity and impurity-related issues affecting mechanical properties. To address these challenges, we imparted the semi-permanent demoldability to a stainless steel (SUS) mold by polymerizing stearyl methacrylate monomer on its surface using a surface-initiated solution polymerization technique. The polymerization state was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The demoldablity was investigated using the appropriately-designed lap shear tests to simulate the demolding stage of epoxy resin-filled SUS mold to ensure sufficient performance compared with the neat and commercial release agent (RA) treated molds, and durability of the demoldability was confirmed via repetitive single-lap shear tests simulating the molding and demolding processes. The surfaced polymerized mold exhibited excellent demoldability with 96.5 % improvement over the neat one, and showed excellent durability over 5 repeated molding cycles, while the commercial RA showed significant degradation of demoldability. Furthermore, the mechanism of demoldability enhancement using the proposed surface polymerization was investigated by characterization of the surface dewetting pattern and contact angle measurements of the epoxy resin on the modified mold surface.

Study on antibacterial characteristics and mechanism of synergistic modification of calcined gypsum from phosphogypsum by inorganic antibacterial materials

Mold on the phosphogypsum wallboard seriously hinders the resource utilization of phosphogypsum, and incorporating inorganic antibacterial materials can effectively inhibit mold growth. In this study, Escherichia coli and wallboard mold were used as experimental strains, and the antibacterial activity of antibacterial material-modified calcined gypsum from phosphogypsum (CPG) was determined using the inhibition zone method and mold surface growth area analysis. Characterization techniques such as XRF, XRD, and SEM were used to study the phase composition and microstructure of the samples, and an antibacterial model was constructed to explore the antibacterial mechanism. The results indicated that using E. coli as an indicator bacterium, ZnO-0.05TiO2-CPG exhibited the best bactericidal effect, while ZnO-CPG exhibited the best bacteriostatic effect. Against mold, ZnO contents of 2.5% or 5% demonstrated strong antibacterial properties, with compressive strengths of 10.1 MPa and 9.95 MPa, respectively, meeting the requirements of ≥3.50 MPa for compressive strength according to the ‘Lightweight Partition Plates for Building’ standard (GB/T 23451 2009). The superior antibacterial performance of ZnO compared to TiO2 is attributed to the slow release of Zn2+, which disrupts cell membranes and the generated reactive oxygen species inhibit cell growth.

Research on point pressing process of curved parts of thick plates with asymmetric double curvature of high strength steel

Abstract High-strength steel asymmetric double-curvature thick plate curved parts are widely used in shipbuilding, nuclear power and other industries, but their accurate forming has been a challenge due to their high strength, large size, asymmetric structure and serious springback. In this paper, the simulation analysis study of spot press forming is carried out with large-size double-curvature spherical thick shells as the research object, and the effects of mould surface size, mould radius of curvature on the results of pressing and forming of asymmetric double-curvature curved thick plate parts made of high-strength steel are analyzed. The results show that the pressing route of pressing the centre of the slab first and then carrying out point pressing along the line of symmetry to the surroundings has the best forming effect. Different mould profile dimensions and radius of curvature of the profile have a great influence on the simulated forming results.

Investigation of the Replication Quality of Microstructures on Injection Moulded Specimens Made from Recycled Polypropylene Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes

During the research, functional microstructures were created on the cavity surface of the injection moulding tool using femtosecond laser technology. Automotive-grade polypropylene (PP), as well as its recycled and carbon nanotube-reinforced composites, were used as the raw materials. The replicated structures were examined using confocal microscopy. It is expected that by optimizing the process parameters, the filling of the structured cavity surface with nanocomposite materials can reach a quality level comparable to plastic specimens made from non-reinforced raw materials. The aim is to provide results of scientific and industrial value to demonstrate the influence of the modified mould surface on the flow of the polymer melt and thus on the filling of the injection moulded products.

A New Methodology to Estimate the Early-Age Compressive Strength of Concrete before Demolding

Non-destructive testing has many advantages, such as the ability to obtain a large number of data without destroying existing structures. However, the reliability of the estimation accuracy and the limited range of applicable targets remain an issue. This study proposes a novel pin penetration test method to determine the early-age compressive strength of concrete before demolding. The timing of demolding and initial curing is determined according to the strength development of concrete. Therefore, it is important to determine the compressive strength at an early age before demolding at the actual construction site. The applicability of this strength estimation methodology at actual construction is investigated. Small test holes (12 mm in diameter) are prepared on the mold surface in real construction sites and mock-up specimens in advance. The pin is penetrated into these test holes to obtain the relationship between the compressive strength and the penetration depth. As a result, it is confirmed that the pin penetration test method is suitable for measuring the early-age compressive strength at the actual construction site. This allows the benchmark values for compressive strength, necessary to avoid early frost damage, to be directly verified on the concrete structural members at the construction site. For instance, the compressive strengths of greater than 5 MPa and 10 MPa can be confirmed by the penetration depths benchmark values of 8.0 mm and 6.7 mm or less, respectively.

Surface Treatments' Influence on the Interfacial Bonding between Glass Fibre Reinforced Elium® Composite and Polybutylene Terephthalate.

This study examines the process of using injection moulding to join two different materials to manufacture bi-component moulded products with improved performance characteristics. The two-component process, which combines the advantages of two different technologies-the high efficiency of the injection moulding process and the excellent mechanical properties of long glass fibre composites produced by resin transfer moulding (RTM) technology-offers a particular advantage and improved applicability of the prepared lightweight products in both the automotive and aerospace sectors. The composite studied here consists of Elium® thermoplastic resin (30%) reinforced with unwoven glass fibre fabric (70%) using the RTM process. The Elium® composite sample is consequently used as an insert overmoulded with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) homopolymer reinforced with 20% w/w of short glass fibre through injection moulding. The influence of different mould temperatures and surface treatments on the adhesion between the materials used is investigated by evaluating the mechanical performance using tensile shear strength tests. It was found that while an increase in mould temperature from 40 °C to 120 °C resulted in a doubling of the initial average bond strength between untreated Elium® RTM inserts and overmoulded PBT parts (0.9 MPa), sandblasting the inserts ensured a further tripling of the bond strength of the composites to a value of 5.4 MPa.

Clearing the Air, Breathe Easy: Intensive Care Unit Remodeling Unveils Insights into Aspergillosis Prevention

Background: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) poses a substantial threat to morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. In 2023, a New York City Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experienced an aspergillus outbreak following a structural water leak, resulting in two patients diagnosed with Invasive Aspergillus niger in their bronchial cultures. Immediate interventions, including patient relocation and ICU reconstruction were implemented to mitigate further impacts. This study aims to assess the impact of timely relocation of patients and renovation of the ICU, on the incidence of invasive aspergillosis. Method: A quasi-experimental study design of ICU patients over a nine month period included surveillance by the Infection Prevention department from March 1 to December 1, 2023. Surveillance included review of microbiology reports, environmental cultures, and patient chart reviews. The Pre-intervention spanned March 1 to May 1, and the post-intervention from May 4 to December 1. Indoor mold assessments of pre- and post-intervention involved testing wall surfaces for moisture, air sample collection for fungal spores, and surface swabs for direct fungal analysis. The intervention included relocating all seventeen patients from the impacted ICU and comprehensive reconstruction. Reconstruction involved the removal and replacement of all sheetrock within the unit extending four feet from the floor with moisture-resistant sheetrock. Additionally, moisture resistant single sheet welded vinyl flooring and cove-bases were installed. All heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems were inspected and cleaned. Construction activities strictly adhered to Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) guidelines, with emphasis on maintaining negative pressure, to ensure a safe environment. Result: Environmental swab samples from 50% of ICU rooms indicated growth of Aspergillus/Penicillium, Chaetomium, and Stachybotrys/Memnoniella type spores during the pre-intervention phase. Environmental microbiology results strongly suggest the indoor environment as the fungal spore source, with the presence of fruiting structures indicating surface mold growth. Indoor air samples, when compared to outdoor samples collected during pre-intervention, showed rare (2-6 raw count) growth of Aspergillus in 55% of the sampled rooms and subequently no growth post-intervention. Prospective surveillance revealed no further aspergillus growth in the ICU population and environment. Conclusion: Our findings highlight a potential correlation between environmental modifications and reduced IA incidence. Swift mitigation and structural interventions are crucial in averting potentially fatal outcomes, marking a significant advancement of prevention strategies for inner-city hospital settings. Although promising, study limitations include the inability to speciate environmental aspergillus for comparison to patient bronchial cultures and the absence of baseline bronchial cultures for affected patients on admission.

Shape reconstruction of trapezoidal surfaces from unorganized point clouds

A smooth T-surface can be thought of as a generalization of a surface of revolution in such a way that the axis of rotation is not fixed at one point but rather traces a smooth path on the base plane. Furthermore, the action, by which the aforementioned surface is obtained does not need to be merely rotation but any “suitable” planar equiform transformation applied to the points of a certain smooth profile curve. In analogy to the smooth setting, if the axis footpoints sweep a polyline on the base plane and if the profile curve is discretely chosen then a T-hedra (discrete T-surface) with trapezoidal faces is obtained.The goal of this article is to reconstruct a T-hedron from an already given unorganized point cloud of a T-surface. In doing so, a kinematic approach is taken into account, where the algorithm at first tries to find the aforementioned axis direction associated with the point cloud. Then the algorithm finds a polygonal path through which the axis footpoint moves. Finally, by properly cutting the point cloud with the planes passing through the axis and its footpoints, it reconstructs the surface. The presented method is demonstrated using examples.From an applied point of view, the straightforwardness of the generation of these surfaces predestines them for building and design processes. In fact, one can find many built objects belonging to the sub-classes of T-surfaces such as surfaces of revolution and moulding surfaces. Furthermore, the planarity of the faces of the discrete version paves the way for steel/glass construction in industry. Finally, these surfaces are also suitable for transformable designs as they allow an isometric deformation within their class.

Investigation of the Engineering Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC) Cured with Internal Resistance

In this study, it was aimed to produce glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC) samples cured with internal resistance by placing resistance wires at different distances within the concrete molds and applying electric current at various voltages, while the mold surfaces were covered with stretch film. The engineering properties of these samples were then investigated. Previous studies have shown that the mechanical properties of conventional concrete, which were subjected to different curing methods, improved compared to samples that did not undergo any curing process. This study aimed to enhance both the engineering properties of the concrete samples and to accelerate the curing process. Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC) with dimensions of 50×50×4 cm was produced, and 25, 35, and 45V resistances were applied to three different molds with wire spacing of 5cm, 6cm, and 7cm. With this application, the GRC samples were subjected to internal resistance curing for the first 24 hours. By applying three different voltages to molds with three different wire spacings, 9 concrete samples were produced, along with 1 reference sample that did not contain any resistance wires and was not subjected to any curing process, making a total of 10 different concrete samples. After curing, the concrete samples were cut into 16cm×4cm×4cm GRC mechanical test specimens. The obtained specimens were tested for 7, 14, and 28 day compressive strength, flexural strength, unit weight, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. To examine the microstructure of the GRC samples, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses were conducted. These analyses investigated the physical and chemical development processes of the samples, mass losses, products formed after hydration, and structural behaviors. As a result, it was observed that the early-age strength properties of GRC samples cured with internal resistance showed a partial increase compared to the reference sample that was not internally cured, especially in the 7-day samples. In the 14 and 28-day strength comparisons, it was observed that the cured samples showed improvement in flexural strength. According to the data obtained, the samples subjected to 35 volts of electric current yielded better results, especially in the early ages, compared to the reference sample.

Identification of Heat Transfer Parameters for Gravity Sand Casting Simulations

Gravity sand casting simulations require accurate modelling of heat transfer phenomena to reliably evaluate the expected quality of the produced parts. Average model parameters can be easily retrieved from a validated database. However, these parameters are highly dependent on the specific sand used and the actual forming process in the foundry. Furthermore, the heat transfer from the solidifying alloy to the mould surfaces is not precisely known, so simulation models usually use typical values for overall heat transfer coefficients. Most research works investigate individual parameters, whereas heat transfer phenomena largely arise from their interaction together. Therefore, the present work describes a combined experimental and computational method based on genetic algorithm techniques for determining the most important parameters for heat transfer in a sand mould. The experiments examine both virgin and reused sand, as these are alternatively used in the foundry for mould forming. The density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity of the different sands are identified, along with heat transfer coefficients. The counterproof simulations demonstrate that the standard parameters are quite reliable for virgin sand. However, in the case of reused sand, the identified parameters lead to more reliable results.