Ashland develops method to increase productivity for metal casting industry

A new test method designed to evaluate the sticking and release characteristics of mould and core binders was presented at CastExpo on 18 May in Atlanta, by chemicals maker Ashland Inc's casting solutions, a business group of its construction and packaging specilty chemicals uni, Ashland Performance Materials.

The presentation introduced a method developed by Ashland scientists that has the capability to produce a core and measure the ejection force immediately after it is cured. This process provides more accuracy compared to previous tests that have a built-in time delay. The new method also creates an improved means for evaluating release agent performance.

"Ashland continues to develop new core test methods that are more accurate and representative of the processes that our customers actually use,"said Steve Smith, project manager for Ashland Casting Solutions. "The new test will help us develop new release agents and to select the best products to meet specific applications for our customers,"

The new test method is shown to improve accuracy and repeatability and will provide the industry with a variable tool to evaluate existing systems.
The paper entitled "Evaluating Core Sticking and Release", was presented by Smith and was co-authored by Ralph Showman, senior staff scientist for Ashland Performance Materials, Desheng Sun, staff development chemist for Ashland Casting Solutions, and Karl Schumacher, senior laboratory technician for Ashland Casting Solutions.

Ashland Casting Solutions, a business group of Ashland Performance Materials, is a leader in supplying products, processes, services and technologies to the global metal casting marketplace.

Ashland Performance Materials, a division of Ashland Inc., is a worldwide manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemicals and customized services to the building and construction, packaging and converting, transportation, marine and metal casting industries. It is a technology leader in metal casting consumables and design services, unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins and gelcoats and high-performance adhesives and specialty resins.