Abstract
This program was undertaken to determine the concentration of the major gaseous decomposition products of foundry sand binds, and to relate the nature and amounts of the gases formed at the silica sand/metal interface to the surface integrity of the iron or steel castings produced. The experimental approach consisted of pouring ferrous metal into sand molds made with four typical organic resin binders and sampling the gases evolved in the vicinity of the mold metal interface as a function of time. The mold was of a gear design sensitive to casting defects. The principal gases evolved were found to be hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen with lesser amounts of oxygen, ethane, ethylene, and acetylene. The presence of these gases was consistent with the formulation of the binders.