Sand casting, or sand mold casting, is a popular method of producing non-ferrous alloy casts.  

Invented over 6,000 years ago, this process has undergone a number of changes and modernizations over the years, but the basic principals have remained the same.One of the main differences between variations of this process is the type of sand used. 

What type of sand is mainly used for sand casting? 

Green Sand

Green sand refers to the sand molds formed from wet sand and is sometimes referred to as clay. The sand mold is in an uncured state as the metal is being poured. Sand casting using green sand is quick and inexpensive since the sand can be reused. The downside is that the sand is a soft mold and can collapse or shift during casting, leaving an unusable cast. However, the process is reliable enough that it has survived for centuries and is still used today.

Resin Sand

Once mixed and heated, resin sand becomes a solid mold with a smooth surface. A solid mold means fewer defective castings, but the disadvantage is a higher cost and slower production rate. Where green sand molds are quick to create, resin sand molds take more time since each must be mixed and burned to create the perfect mold. The cost of resin sand is much greater and, though the resin can be reused, it constantly needs to be replenished. This makes the process more costly.

Sodium Silicate or Water Glass

Sodium silicate can also be used to create the mold casting. Sodium Silicate can quickly go from a liquid to a solid by passing carbon dioxide through it. This causes the sodium silicate to dehydrate. This process is extremely useful when a cavity is required within the casting. Though sodium silicate can create a solid core for the casting it must be mixed with other materials to allow the breakdown after casting so the core can be removed. If the mixture isn’t correct the core will become lodged within the casting, causing the casting to be useless.