SUITABILITY OF SAND FROM RIVER UBUH IN DELTA STATE FOR METAL CASTING

Abstract

This Research on suitability of sand from rivers Ubuh in Delta state for metal casting
purposes with binding clay and water. The sand is put to use for metal casting which
includes ferrous and non ferrous material components for foundry purposes with a view of
possible replacement of the imported products. The sample is subjected to physical and
mechanical tests. These include permeability, green and dry compression strength tests.
Green and dry shear strength shattered index and refractoriness tests will also be carried
out on the samples. The samples investigation consisted of washed and unwashed sands
prepared from control sample moulding sand. The results obtained shows the existence of
peak values for the green compressive strength of the washed and unwashed sand, and
peak values for the permeability and shatter index of the washed sand, with set amounts
of binding clay as well as water in both cases. In addition, the working range for each
type of property was seen to vary with the amount of water present in the sand. Samples
containing 23–32% clay were found to possess adequate permeability, good strength and
refractoriness suitable for casting of both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. The results
demonstrated the possible utility of the sand for making of sand casting moulds.