Physico-chemical characterization of South African waste moulding sands

Dry analysis techniques including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDS) and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) have been used to assess the Physico-chemical of waste sand samples, obtained from different local foundry. The casting process involved included Aluminum in shell sand, brass under alky urethane, grey iron in greensand moulding, high chrome using furan sand, steel casting in alkaline phenolic and lastly cast iron from greensand mould. The study revealed the transformations and changes which have taken place in the waste sand due to the casting process, in terms of chemical composition, mineralogy, morphology and bonding types. The study demonstrated that the waste sand after the casting process was a completely new material, compared to the original virgin sand used for moulding process.