The Influence of Modified Inorganic Binders Intended for 3D Printing on Selected Properties of Thermally Cured Moulding Sands – Conventionally and with Microwaves

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7494/jcme.2026.10.1.1-9

Keywords:

moulding sands, sand 3D printing, inorganic binders, thermal curing, microwaves

Abstract

This study determined the impact of thermal curing on the basic properties of moulding compounds made with commercial inorganic binders and binders based on them, modified for use in 3D printing technology (Binder Jetting). Two inorganic binders based on sodium silicate and a binder based on aluminosilicates were tested. As part of the work, the parameters for thermal curing of the mixtures were selected: for curing in a dryer, the best properties were obtained for mixtures containing 2.0 p.p.w. of binder cured for 10 min at 160°C. In the case of microwave curing, the best properties were obtained for moulding sands containing 2.0 p.p.w. of binder cured for 6 min at a device power of 800 W. The tests showed that the basic properties of moulding compounds with binders developed on the basis of commercial binders for use in 3D printing technology, thermally cured in a dryer, do not differ significantly from the properties of compounds with commercial binders. In the case of microwave curing, a reduction in the strength of compounds with new binders was observed in relation to compounds with classic binders. Thermal deformation tests of compounds with classic and modified binders confirmed the typical behavior observed for inorganic systems. It was proven that new, modified inorganic binders developed for 3D printing of moulds and cores using Binder Jetting technology can be used as binding materials in thermally cured moulding sands. Both thermal curing methods were assessed as suitable for curing moulding compounds with new binders.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Major-Gabryś K. (2016). Environmentally Friendly Foundry Molding and Core Sand. Odlewnicze masy formierskie i rdzeniowe przyjazne dla środowiska. Katowice – Gliwice: Wydawnictwo Archives of Foundry Engineering.

[2] Jelinek P. (2005). Rozwój spoiw nieorganicznych do dehydratacyjnego utwardzania mikrofalowego. In: VIII Konferencja Odlewnicza Technical 2005. Nowa Sól, pp. 5–11.

[3] Puzio S. (2022). Dobór rodzaju oraz technologii utwardzania mas formierskich przeznaczonych na formy do ablacyjnego odlewania stopów aluminium [PhD thesis]. Kraków: Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza.

[4] Stachowicz M., Granat K. & Nowak D. (2010). Effect of hardening method and structure of linking Bridges on strengh of water glass moulding sands. Archives of Foundry Engineering, 10(Spec. Issue 2), 141–146.

[5] Stachowicz M., Granat K. & Pałyga Ł. (2016). Effect of sand wetting on physically hardened moulding sands containing a selected inorganic binder. Part 1. Archives of Foundry Engineering, 16(1), 73–78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/afe-2016-0006.

[6] Kaczmarska K., Grabowska B., Drożyński D., Kurleto Ż. & Szymański Ł. (2015). An assessment of the effectiveness a physical curing methods of moulding sand bonded by binder based on starch and aluminosilicates. Metallurgy and Foundry Engineering, 41(3), 133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7494/mafe.2015.41.3.133.

[7] Stachowicz M., Granat K. & Nowak D. (2011). Application of microwaves for innovative hardening of environment-friendly water-glass moulding sands used in manufacture of cast-steel castings. Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, 11(1), 209–219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1644-9665(12)60184-8.

[8] Stachowicz M., Granat K. & Pałyga Ł. (2016). Effect of sand wetting on physically hardened moulding sands containing a selected inorganic binder. Part 2. Archives of Foundry Engineering, 16(1), 79–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/afe-2016-0007.

[9] Grabowska B. (2019). Polimery. Budowa, otrzymywanie, właściwości, aplikacje w odlewnictwie. Kraków: AKAPIT.

[10] Liu J., Shi X., Zhang G. & Li L. (2023). Study the mechanical properties of geopolymer under different curing conditions. Minerals, 13(5), 690. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min13050690.

[11] Garcia-Lodeiro I., Palomo A., Fernández-Jiménez A. & Macphee D.E. (2011). Compatibility studies between N-A-S-H and C-A-S-H gels. Study in the ternary diagram Na2O–CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O. Cement and Concrete Research, 41(9), 923–931. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.05.006.

[12] Major-Gabryś K. A. & Halejcio D. M. (2025). Selection of Chemically Cured Molding Sands’ with Inorganic Binders Dedicated to 3D Sand Printing. Archives of Foundry Engineering, 25(4), 81–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24425/afe.2025.155383.

[13] Halejcio D.M. & Major-Gabryś K.A. (2024). The comparison of chosen – bonded with the use of classical and dedicated for 3D printing furfuryl binder – molding sands’ properties as a basis for development a new inorganic system. Archives of Foundry Engineering, 4, 49–55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24425/afe.2024.151309.

[14] Halejcio D. & Major-Gabryś K. (2024). Dobór parametrów utwardzania spoiw nieorganicznych przeznaczonych do druku 3D mas formierskich. In: Materiały konferencyjne: Szkoła Inżynierii Materiałowej SIM 2024, Kraków: Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza, p. 20. URL: https://sim.agh.edu.pl/home/sim/Grafiki/SIM2024_-_Materialy_Konferencyjne.pdf.

[15] Chavez L.A., Ibave P., Wilburn B., Alexander D., Stewart C., Wicker R. & Lin Y. (2020). The influence of printing parameters, post-processing, and testing conditions on the properties of binder jetting additive manufactured functional ceramics. Ceramics, 3(1), 65–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3010008.

[16] Castro-Sastre M.Á., Fernández-Abia A.I., Piep J., Rodríguez-González P. & Barreiro J. (2020). Towards functional parts by binder jetting calcium-sulphate with thermal treatment post-processing. Materials, 13(17), 3818. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13173818.

[17] Colton T. & Crane N.B. (2021). Influence of droplet velocity, spacing, and inter-arrival time on line formation and saturation in binder jet additive manufacturing. Additive Manufacturing, 37, 101711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2020.101711.

[18] Cheny T., Colin C. & Verquin B. (2024). Experimental evaluation of binder infiltration depth and axial overlap to control properties of green parts produced by Binder Jetting. Additive Manufacturing, 87, 104231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2024.104231.

[19] Bertolini F., Mariani M., Mercadelli E., Baldisserri C., Galassi C., Capiani C., Ardito R. & Lecis N. (2024). 3D printing of potassium sodium niobate by binder jetting: Printing parameters optimisation and correlation to final porosity. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 29, 4597–4606. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.02.145.

[20] Diener S., Schubert H., Held A., Katsikis N., Günster J. & Zocca A. (2022). Influence of the dispersant on the parts quality in slurry‐based binder jetting of SiC ceramics. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 105(12), 7072–7086. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.18693.

[21] Chemical Plant “RUDNIKI” (n.d.). Sodium Water Glass. URL:https://zchrudniki.com.pl/oferta/szklo-wodne-sodowe [7.02.2026].

[22] Chemical Plant “RUDNIKI” (n.d.). Casting binders. URL: https://zchrudniki.com.pl/oferta/spoiwa-odlewnicze [7.02.2026].

[23] SAND TEAM spol. s r. o. (n.d.). GEOPOL®. URL: https://www.sandteam.cz/pl/produkcja-spoiw/ [7.02.2026].

[24] Lewandowski J.L. (1986). Materiały formierskie. Laboratorium, Skrypty Uczelniane nr 1008 Akademii Górniczo-Hutniczej im. S. Staszica w Krakowie. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Akademii Górniczo-Hutniczej im. St. Staszica w Krakowie.

[25] Anwar N., Major-Gabryś K., Jalava K. & Orkas J. (2024). Effect of additives on heat hardened inorganic solid foundry binder. International Journal of Metalcasting, 19(1), 129–144. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-024-01277-w.

[26] Jakubski J. & Dobosz S.M. (2006). Wpływ powłoki ochronnej na zjawiska cieplne w rdzeniach odlewniczych. Archives of Foundry Engineering, 6(18), 453–458.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-31

Issue

Section

Orginal Articles

How to Cite

Halejcio, D., & Major-Gabryś, K. (2026). The Influence of Modified Inorganic Binders Intended for 3D Printing on Selected Properties of Thermally Cured Moulding Sands – Conventionally and with Microwaves. Journal of Casting & Materials Engineering, 10(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.7494/jcme.2026.10.1.1-9

Most read articles by the same author(s)