TYPES OF SANDS USED IN

MOULDS

BY- MADHUSHRI DESHPANDE

 Different types of sands used in sand
moulding are
 Green sand
 Dry sand
 Loam sand
 Synthetic sand
 Core sand
 Parting sand
 Facing sand
 Backing sand
 Sharp sand
 System sand
 Heap sand
 Oil and molasses sand
 GREEN SAND
 Green sand is an aggregate of sand, bentonite
clay, pulverized coal and water. The largest portion of the
aggregate is always sand, which can be either silica
or olivine. 
 It contains about 5% water and 15 to 30% clay.
 Moulds and cores can be both made of green sand.
 Since this sand contains moisture, it is necessary to
prevent defects like voids by controlling the permeability
and moisture content.
 Green sand moulds are poured in green condition.
 Green sand is preferred for producing simple, small and
medium size casting.
Green
sand
 DRY SAND
 Green sand mould(cavity) when dried results
in dry sand mould.
 Depending upon the dried mould wall
thickness, it can be called skin dry mould or
dry mould.
 Since dry sand contains less water content, the
amount of venting is even less than that
provided in the green sand mould, but it will
let the mould gases escape.
 Moulds may be
a) Dried by heating the same at about 3500F.
b) Skin dried by a torch. Unlike full drying, it is a
localized drying process
 Dry sands moulds possess
a)greater strength and rigidity
b)Thermal stability
 Dry sand moulds do not cause defects which
occur due to the moisture content of the
sands(i.e pinholes,etc)
 Large and heavy castings are produced in dry
sand moulds
 LOAM SAND
 Loam sand contains much more clay when compared
to normal sand.
 The clay content is in the order of 50% or so.
 The ingredients of loam sand may be fine sands,
finely ground refractories, clays, graphite and fibrous
reinforcement.
 A typical loam sad mixture consists of:-
a)silica sand 20 volumes
b)clay 5 volumes
c)manure 1 volume
d)moisture 20%
PREPERARTION
 The material is mixed (with water) to a

consistency resembling mortor.

 Loam dries hard

 Moulds for casting large bells are made up of

brick frame work and lined with loam sand

and dried.
 Sweep or skeleton pattern may be used for

loam moulding.
Loam
sand
 SYNTHETIC SANDS
 Synthetic sand consists of:-
 Natural sand(base) with or without clay.
 Binder(bentonite).
 Moisture.
 Thus a synthetic sand is a formulated sand.
 Sand formulation is done to acquire certain
desired properties not pocessed by natural
sands.
 Synthetic sands are used for casting steel,
ferrous and non ferrous alloys.
 PARTING SAND
 Parting sand consists of dried silica sand, sea
sand and burnt sand.
 Parting sand when sprinkled
a)over the rammed drag avoids the sticking of
drag with cope.
b)over the pattern avoids its sticking with the
green sand and makes the pattern withdrawal
easier.
 Parting compounds may be
1)dry
2)liquid

 Dry parting substances

 Fine dried sand
 Charcoal, ground bone and lime stone.
 Lycopodium -a yellow vegetable matter
 Tripolite- a silicate rock
 Ground nutshells(walnut)
 Talc(magnesium silicate)
 Calcium phosphate
 Liquid parting substances
 Petroleum jelly mixed with oil, paraffin and stearic acid.
Dry parting compounds are used on wood and wet on
metal patterns
 FACING SAND
 Facing sand is fresh and specially prepared molding sand
which covers the pattern from allround and then the
ordinary floor sand is used to fill the remainder molding box.

 Facing sand comes in direct contact with the molten metal

being poured and therefore it should possess much
improved properties as compared to ordinary molding sand.
 SHARP SAND
 A sharp sand need not necessarily have sharp
grains.
 A sharp sand is one which is substancially free
of bond.
 SYSTEM SAND
 System sand is one which is used in mechanical
sand preparation and handling system.
 In mechanical sand preparation and handling
units(i.e mechanical foundries) no facing sand
is used; rather the completely otherwise used
sand is cleaned and reactivated by the adition
of water, binders and special additives.
this is known as system sand.
 HEAP SAND
 It is a sand put on the floor as a heap when it is
prepared for use.
 OIL AND MOLASSES SAND
 Sands using oil binders or molasses binders are
known as oil sands or molasses sands.
 Molasses sand is used for producing intricate,
small thin sectioned and accurate castings. Small
non ferrous gears may be cast in molasses sands.
Thank you!!