US3396935A - Metal ingot mold with protective coating - Google Patents
Metal ingot mold with protective coating Download PDFInfo
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- US3396935A US3396935A US659621A US65962167A US3396935A US 3396935 A US3396935 A US 3396935A US 659621 A US659621 A US 659621A US 65962167 A US65962167 A US 65962167A US 3396935 A US3396935 A US 3396935A
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- silica
- sols
- mold
- sol
- metal
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- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 title description 45
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 title description 45
- 239000011253 protective coating Substances 0.000 title description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 134
- 239000002585 base Substances 0.000 description 45
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 45
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 34
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 31
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 30
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 27
- RMAQACBXLXPBSY-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicic acid Chemical compound O[Si](O)(O)O RMAQACBXLXPBSY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 27
- 235000012239 silicon dioxide Nutrition 0.000 description 23
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 description 23
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 21
- 239000008119 colloidal silica Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 13
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 12
- 239000011819 refractory material Substances 0.000 description 12
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 230000001464 adherent effect Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 9
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 7
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000005350 fused silica glass Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 5
- 229910001018 Cast iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- -1 aluminum silicates Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 125000004435 hydrogen atom Chemical group [H]* 0.000 description 4
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 4
- NTHWMYGWWRZVTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium silicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-][Si]([O-])=O NTHWMYGWWRZVTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- YKTSYUJCYHOUJP-UHFFFAOYSA-N [O--].[Al+3].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] Chemical compound [O--].[Al+3].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] YKTSYUJCYHOUJP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000008346 aqueous phase Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000391 magnesium silicate Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000019353 potassium silicate Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- GFQYVLUOOAAOGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N zirconium(iv) silicate Chemical compound [Zr+4].[O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] GFQYVLUOOAAOGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,2-bis(ethenyl)benzene;1-ethenyl-2-ethylbenzene;styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1.CCC1=CC=CC=C1C=C.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1C=C NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- YNAVUWVOSKDBBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Morpholine Chemical compound C1COCCN1 YNAVUWVOSKDBBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- BPQQTUXANYXVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Orthosilicate Chemical compound [O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] BPQQTUXANYXVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium oxide Inorganic materials [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003729 cation exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006255 coating slurry Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910002026 crystalline silica Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000012458 free base Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001879 gelation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- HCWCAKKEBCNQJP-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium orthosilicate Chemical compound [Mg+2].[Mg+2].[O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] HCWCAKKEBCNQJP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000012243 magnesium silicates Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000003495 polar organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010453 quartz Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007581 slurry coating method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 101100348017 Drosophila melanogaster Nazo gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000334993 Parma Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004115 Sodium Silicate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BOTDANWDWHJENH-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tetraethyl orthosilicate Chemical compound CCO[Si](OCC)(OCC)OCC BOTDANWDWHJENH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001339 alkali metal compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000008044 alkali metal hydroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052910 alkali metal silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000005233 alkylalcohol group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 235000010210 aluminium Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- ILRRQNADMUWWFW-UHFFFAOYSA-K aluminium phosphate Chemical compound O1[Al]2OP1(=O)O2 ILRRQNADMUWWFW-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- INJRKJPEYSAMPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminum;silicic acid;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Al].[Al].O[Si](O)(O)O INJRKJPEYSAMPD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052849 andalusite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003957 anion exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005388 borosilicate glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005341 cation exchange Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000005524 ceramic coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000502 dialysis Methods 0.000 description 1
- HPNMFZURTQLUMO-UHFFFAOYSA-N diethylamine Chemical compound CCNCC HPNMFZURTQLUMO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000909 electrodialysis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052839 forsterite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000004927 fusion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000011187 glycerol Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010443 kyanite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052850 kyanite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009533 lab test Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000005355 lead glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019792 magnesium silicate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052919 magnesium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000010445 mica Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052618 mica group Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006386 neutralization reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002894 organic compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000000962 organic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000005368 silicate glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052851 sillimanite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000005361 soda-lime glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052911 sodium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- HUAUNKAZQWMVFY-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;oxocalcium;hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[Na+].[Ca]=O HUAUNKAZQWMVFY-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000454 talc Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052623 talc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052845 zircon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052726 zirconium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22C—FOUNDRY MOULDING
- B22C3/00—Selection of compositions for coating the surfaces of moulds, cores, or patterns
Definitions
- the molten metal upon solidification to an ingot thereby has a bottom form conforming to the undesirable eroded surface configuration of the stool or base member of the mold.
- a considerable amount of the ingot when withdrawn from the mold and subsequently processed into slabs or blooms, is lost through a cropping of the irregularly formed end of the slab.
- This is highly undesirable, since it results in increase in scrap, which must be subsequently reprocessed.
- a specific object of the invention is to inhibit such erosion and adherence by applying a film of coating material to the surface of the base member whereby these problems are over-come.
- Yet another object is to provide metal molds used for casting ingots which have at least the base member of the mold protected by a film of material so that the above described problems of erosion of the base member and ad herence of same to metal ingots no longer exist to any appreciable degree.
- the invention comprises the steps of applying a slurry consisting of a binder and refractory to the surface of the base member of a metal mold.
- the slurry should consist of at least one refractory of the following types: vitreous siilca, crystalline silica, magnesium silicates, aluminum silicates, alumina, graphite,
- zirconium silicates and clay These materials are all wellknown substances and are all commercially available.
- Typical aluminum silicates for example, may include mica, a laminated type of aluminum silicate and mulor even lower. The coating becomes completely resistant to subsequent contact with water and stays tightly adherent to the base portions of the mold even under such washings.
- lite an orthorhombic aluminum silicate available from 5
- molten metal is poured into the Island of Mull or other sources or artificially made the mold, all-owed to solidify into an ingot and the ingot by heating andalusite, sillimanite or kyanite.
- the invention i not lent magnesium silicates are forsterite or talc, while a limited to use with specific mold sides or any particular useful zirconium silicate is zircon.
- a typical crystalline metal mold bottom or to use with any particular molten silica is quartz.
- the binder coating cast iron metal base members for molds which used with any one or more of the above refractories should are used in forming ingots of steel. comprise colloidal silica sol and a silicic acid sol, both One of the binder components used to form the slurries of which will be fully described hereinafter. of the invention is a colloidal silica sol. These are well- The slurry is provided in an amount adequate to form a known materials and are commercially available from sevcoating of sufficient thickess to prevent the above-meneral sources of supply. A typical group of commercially tioned adherence and erosion from occurring.
- silica sols that may be used in the practice of slurry is allowed to dry with or without application of heat
- the invention are those silica sols sold under the name whereby the liquid phase is driven from the surface of the Nalcote.
- Silica sols of this type are described below in base member, leaving a thin film of solid refractory coat- Table I.
- the molten metal is thereafter poured intothe mold and on top of the now coated base member.
- the solidified ingot is then removed from the coated base member and mold sides.
- the slurry coating is simply applied to the stool or bottom of the mold by a wide variety of methods. For example, ithe slurry may be applied by flowing it over the stool, by spray techniques, by coating the stool with some type of applicator, etc. Spray application is believed to be the most efficient and practical way of slurry application.
- the slurry may be applied to the stool portion of the molds before or after the metal mold sides are placed thereon.
- Effecting removal of the liquid phase of the slurry from the solid refractory material may likewise be carried out in a variety of methods.
- the bottom portion of the mold may be coated with the slurry and allowed to dry gradually.
- Another method of laying down a thin protective coating is to apply the slurry to an already heated stool or mold having an integral base portion. This is particularly preferred in that the stools and their metal mold sides or big-end-up molds are generally already hot before introduction of the molten metal due to the residual heat from the previous casting run, and in such a method drying time is a very minimum period.
- Another way of applying the protective film is to coat the base member, and then heat it as slowly or rapidly as desired to drive off the liquid portion of the slurry. In any event all that is necessary is that the coating be laid down and dried in some manner after the slurry has been applied to the base member.
- the coating slurry is applied to stools or mold base members having a temperature ranging from that of room temperature to 1200 F., and more preferably from 200 F. to 800 F. Most preferably, best adherence of solid coating to stools is achieved by slurry application to the stools :at a temperature range.
- films should measure in thickness from 0.01" to 3" and most preferably from 0.01" to A.
- silica sols that may be used in addition to those above, may be prepared by using several well-known conventional techniques. Perhaps the mos-t convenient method of making aqueous colloidal silica sols is described in Bird, US. Patent 2,224,355, wherein a dilute solution of an alkali metal silicate is passed in contact with a cation exchange resin in hydrogen form, whereby the silicate is converted to a dilute aqueous silicic acid sol.
- the dilute silicic acid sol may be both converted to a silica sol and concentrated to solids concentrations which are more economically usable from the standpoint of shipping costs and ultimate process use, by employing the techniques described in either Bechtold et al. U.S.
- Patent 2,574,902 Bragg et al., US. Patent 2,680,720; or Parma et a1.
- U.S. Patent 2,601,235 Another type of silica sol which may be used in the practices of the invention is described in the specification of Reuter, US. Patent 2,856,302. While aqueous colloidal silica sols may be used, it will be understood that other forms of colloidal silica may be employed, such as for instance, sols which contain a major portion of polar organic solvents. Said sols may be generically referred to as organo sols, and are typified by the sols described in Marshall US. Patent 2,386,247. It is only necessary that the silica particles used can be dispersed colloidally in a hydrophilic substance, such as water or lower alkyl alcohols and other organic compounds possessing relatively high dielectric constants.
- a hydrophilic substance such as water or lower alkyl alcohols and other organic compounds possessing relatively high dielectric constants.
- mixtures of water and organic substances compatible with water may be employed as suspending media for the colloidal silica particles.
- Particularly preferred organic substances are those which lower the freezing point of pure aqueous sols by their admixture with these aqueous silica sols.
- Such final product sols then are especially useful during the colder months of the year when they must be stored and/or used at relatively low temperature.
- Amines such as morpholine, diethyl amine, etc., and polyhydroxy organics as ethylene glycol, glycerine, etc., are preferred materials in making up silica sols containing these substances as sole silica suspending media or as a portion of a mixture additionally containing water.
- a preferred sol, winterized against freezing contains 5-50 parts by weight of polyhydroxy compound such as ethylene glycol, 20-85 parts by weight of water and 10-60 parts by weight of silica.
- the colloidal silica sol containing water, polar organic liquids or mixtures of these substances as a continuous suspending phase, it is desirable that said sols contain silica particles which are dense, amorphous, and have an average particle diameter which does not exceed 150 millimicrons and is greater than millimicrons.
- all the silica sols contemplated as starting materials have an average particle size diameter well below 150 millimicrons.
- the starting silica sols have an average particle size diameter of from -50 millimicrons.
- the silica concentration in the sols may be between 0.1% and 60% by weight silica expressed as SiO More preferred sols contain from 3.0 to 60% by weight of silica and most preferably 10'60% by weight.
- the molecular weight of the silica particles is in excess of 200,000 and may range as high as several million.
- sols which may be employed as binders for the silica refractory are those known as salt-free silica sols. These are particularly preferred when the suspension media of the silica particles in the binder itself is solely a polar organic liquid or a mixture of water and polar organic liquid. Since many of the above described sols usually contain alkali metal compounds as stabilizers, they are generally not compatible with organic systems due to the fact that the salts present in the aqueous sol cause gelation or precipitation of the silica particles when the aqueous phases are exchanged for polar organic solvents. This can be avoided by use of salt-free aqueous silica sols as starting materials in preparation of pure organosols or mixtures of water and organic as silica carriers.
- aqueous salt-free silica sols may be either used as such in combination with the silicic acid sol and with one or more of the named refractories to constitute a slurry coating material or may be modified whereby the aqueous phase is completely or partially exchanged for a hydrophilic polar liquid such as an alcohol or the alcohol is mixed with aqueous sol in desired proportions.
- the salt-free pure alcohols or aqueousalcoholic silica sols may then be easily combined with silicic acid sols and a refractory and the resultant slurry used to coat the stools.
- the silica particles present in the starting aqueous or organic sol have specific surface areas of at least 20 m. /.g., and usually in excess of 100 mF/g. Further, when deionized sols are employed as a binder, they generally have a salt content expressed as Na SO of less than 0.01%.
- the particular silicic acid sols used as a binder component may be produced by a wide variety of methods. All of these particular sols have average molecular weights below about 90,000. More preferably these acid sols contain silica particles having an average molecular weight of from about 1000 to 46,000. The pH of these acid sols is below 5.5 and more preferably they lie within the range of 2.5 and 3.5. The average particle diameter is less than 5 millimicrons and generally 1-4 millimicrons.
- acid sols suitable for use in the invention may be prepared by a variation of the Bird method described above.
- the efiluent from the Bird process may then be further treated by passing it through a weak base resin in the free base form.
- the resultant product is then substantially stripped of any ions and is generally known as deionized.
- Still another variation of the technique is to employ a mixed resin bed, that is, a bed containing a weak base resin in the free base form and a strong acid resin in the hydrogen form whereby the silicic acid sol is formed simultaneously with exchange of its companion ions to produce a substantially deionized polysilicic acid sol.
- any appropriate method for producing an acid sol of a requisite molecular weight and pH may also be used.
- minute amounts of the stabilizer such as alkali metal hydroxide may be used without departing from. the scope of the invention as long as the pH is not raised above the operative limits described above.
- the binder itself should be composed of 4090% colloidal silica sol and 1060% silicic acid sol. More preferably, each component ranges from about 40% to about 60%. A 50%50% mixture was found to exhibit excellent performance in its intended end-use. All expressed percentages are weight percents.
- vitreous silicas those generally referred to as vitreous silicas. These are glassy modifications of silica, obtained by the fusion of selected low temperature crystalline forms, and are frequently referred to as quartz glass or silica glass.
- Specific vitreous silicas include those particles made fromfused quartz glasses, silicate glasses, silica glasses such as the well-known Vycor materials and fused silica glasses. With respect to all of these materials the thermal expansion coefiicients are relatively small in proportion to other refractories such as those of the soda-lime and lead glass types. Generally, they have thermal expansion coefficients smaller than 5x10" cm./cm./ C.
- silica content of these granular siliceous refractory materials is generally greater than 96% silica expressed as SiO and may range as high as 99.8% SiO
- vitreous silica is meant a refractory comprising a silica glass having a thermal coefiicient of expansion and SiO content within the above range.
- the most preferred refractories are those which have the highest purities concomitant with'the lowest thermal coefficient of expansion. These properties are particularly posit sessed by vitreous silicas and more particularly thoseof the fused silica types.
- the latter materials have a silica content greater than 97% silica expressed as SiO- and a thermal coeflicient of expansion not greater than about 6X 10* cm./cm./ C.
- a typical fused silica of the type described above which is extremely useful in the practice of the invention, having a thermal coefiicient of expansion of about 10 cn1./cn1./ C., has the following typical analysis:
- silica products are readily prepared by grinding very pure fused silica glasses.
- the borosilicate glasses and Vycor silica glasses may. be also ground to produce extremely useful refractories.
- the particle size of the refractory may vary over a wide range. It is preferred, however, that the refractory particles be sufiiciently small so that a uniform dispersion of refractory and binder may be made. The smaller the particle size the longer a slurry made up of binder and refractory, remains in a homogeneous state. It has been determined that particles ranging in size from 100 mesh to as low as a fraction of a micron may be employed. Preferred refractory materials have an average particle size ranging from a fraction of a micron to 500 microns in particle diameter, with particles corresponding to the lower range diameters being most preferred. Specific vitreous silica substances, marketed under the name, Nalcote fall within the above preferred particle size range and have been employed with much success in preventing.
- the amount of binder making up a portionof the coating slurry must be such that it is present in an amount sufficient to bind the refractory particles together to thereby form a tightly adherent, continuous and unbroken coating which is securely bonded to the surface of the stool. Without proper amount of binder in relation to refractory, the resultant coating, after application and drying of slurry, exhibits a pan-cake effect with nu-.
- Example I In Order to particularly test the efliciency of the binder component of the invention, a laboratory test was devised which simulated a commercial stool coating operation. Six binder test blends were prepared having the following make-up: 90% silica sol-10% silicic acid sol;
- silicic acid sol 60% silica sol-% silicic acid Sol; silica sol-50% silicic acid sol and 40% silicia sol and silicic acid sol.
- the colloidal silica sol contained 35% silica solids, and the silicic acid sol was madeup of 8 approximately 5% solids.
- the binders were applied to a cast iron plate heated to about 325 F., and the coatings then inspected. In all cases, the above described binder compositions gave a hard adherent coating. Application of the colloidal sol alone also gave an acceptable coating.
- Example II In this case, an actual mill trial was effected.
- a binder of the invention was formulated by mixing in equal weight proportions a 30% aqueous colloidal silica sol corresponding to silica sol N0. 2 whose physical characteristics are tabulated in Table I, and a 5% aqueous silicic acid sol prepared according to the teachings of Bird, U.S. Patent 2,244,325.
- a silica slurry was made by addition of equal part of the above binder and fused silica refractory. This latter material has a wide range particle size distribution in which 100% will pass a 100' mesh sieve, will pass 325 mesh, 30% is smaller than 10 microns and the smallest particles are a fraction of a micron in size.
- the refractory and binder were thoroughly mixed and then coated onto a number of cast iron stools.
- the coatings had excellent adherence, and surface hardness and as well, were easy to apply.
- a 30% silica sol in combination with fused silica also at a 1:1 weight ratio, also yielded a coating having the above described excellent characteristics.
- employment of the binder composition of the invention yielded an even more adherent, coating than a binder containing only the silica sol component. Again, such results were surprising and unexpected in view of the fact that the solids content of the combination binder of the invention was almost one-half that of a binder containing silica sol as the sole ingredient.
- the coatings derived from the'slurries of the invention and containing a binder of the type described herein substantially prevented erosion of the stools or base members of the metal molds during pouring of molten metal thereon. Moreover, adherence of the subsequently formed ingots to the base member after metal solidification was also substantially reduced. In addition, subsidiary good effects were also noted. For example, since erosion has been reduced to a minimal effect, life of mold bases is substantially'increased. Likewise, since generally no adherence of the mold base portions to the ingots occurs, no resort need be taken to physicallyxcontacting the two adherent articles against a third larger object such as a floor, to separate the united objects and recover the ingot.
- binders of the invention may be utilized with other known binders such as ethyl silicate, aluminum phosphate, sodium silicate, etc.
- An improved metal mold for casting metal ingots which comprises an open-top mold having at least its base member coated with a thin solid protective film of refractory material derived from drying a slurry comprising at least one refractory selected from the group consisting of vitreous silica, crystalline silica, aluminum silicate, alumina, graphite, zirconium silicate, magnesium silicate, and clay suspended in a binder comprising a colloidal silica sol and a silicic acid sol, said binder being present in said slurry in an amount sufficient to bind the refractory materials together to thereby form a tightly adherent coating which is bonded to said base member, said coated base member being further characterized as being nonerosive to flowing molten metal and non-adherent to subsequently formed solid metal ingots.
- the metal mold of claim 1 wherein said coating is derived from a slurry comprising 10-70 parts by weight of vitreous silica having a silica content not less than 96% silica, expressed as S102, and a thermal coeflicient of expansion of less than 5X 10- cm./cm./ C.; and 30-90 parts by weight of said binder.
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United States Patent 3,396,935 METAL INGOT MOLD WITH PROTECTIVE COATING William T. Snyder, Flossmoor, Ill., assignor to Nalco Chemical Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Original application Aug. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 483,301. Divided and this application Aug. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 659,621
2 Claims. (Cl. 249174) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved metal mold for casting ingots which has its base member coated with a thin protective film of refractory material.
This application is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 483,301, now Patent No. 3,357,487, filed Aug. 27, 1965.
INTRODUCTION All metal ingots are cast from molds. One popular type is a big end down mold. These molds rest on bases commonly known as stools. The stools are merely large, normally rectangular, flat slabs of metal, commonly made of cast iron, which are used as support for the mold sides and also, of course, form the bottom portion of the mold. The mold inside surfaces generally taper up in diameter from bottom to top.
Various problems commonly occur in use of these molds and particularly with respect to the surface of their base portions. First, the unprotected metal surface quickly erodes and pits from the action of molten metals which are cascaded upon their surface. Large gouges in the base portions are produced due to the force and high temperature developed by the flowing molten metal which contacts the surface of the stool. Since many molds ar generally approximately 5-10 feet in height, the metal must be poured from a height at least equal to that distance and quite often is poured from even greater heights. A considerable pressure head is also developed due to the mass of molten metal. Thus, the hot molten metal easily gouges gaping depressions in the base members under such force and at a temperature greater than the liquefaction temperature of the molten metal.
The molten metal upon solidification to an ingot thereby has a bottom form conforming to the undesirable eroded surface configuration of the stool or base member of the mold. Thus, a considerable amount of the ingot, when withdrawn from the mold and subsequently processed into slabs or blooms, is lost through a cropping of the irregularly formed end of the slab. This, of course, is highly undesirable, since it results in increase in scrap, which must be subsequently reprocessed. Thus, there is an overall reduction in yield.
Another extremely serious and costly problem results after the ingot in a big-end-down mold has solidified to a point where it can be removed from both the mold sides and its base platform member or stool. In many cases, if the surface of the stool is unprotected, or inadequately protected, and erosion occurs as described above, the ingot has a greater tendency to remain tightly adherent to the stool. Thus, after the mold sides are removed from around the ingot, which process can normally be efficiently achieved with a minimal film of coating selected from a variety of coating agents, the ingot must be forcibly removed from the stool. This is normally achieved by raising both ingot and adherent stool, and thrusting them against some other larger object whereby the ingot is jarred loose. In many cases, the stool and ingot are merely dropped on the floor from some suitable height. In
such a situation, the stool is often broken into two or more smaller pieces and cannot be subsequent reused in casting other ingots. Again, replacement cost of these stools is high, making this aspect of the overall casting process somewhat disadvantageous. The same problem exists with respect to closed end big-end-up molds wherein sticking of ingots particularly occurs at their base portion, New molds of this type are especially vulnerable to sticking due to their smooth surface unprotected by any layers of metal oxides or scale. A tight metal-to-metal bond between mold bottoms and ingots then occur.
Cracking of molds and particularly their base portions due to the above discussed rough handling occasioned by stickers between the base portions and ingots is also enhanced by thermal shock during ingot formation. Unprotected or inadequately protected bottom surfaces of molds are especially suceptible to such destructive shock.
Many prior art coating materials have failed to give adequate protection to the mold base members, and in some cases caused ancillary process difficulties. For example, some inferior coatings were washed off the surface of the base portion of the mold and were thereby included as an unwanted impurity in the ingots. Such inclusion oftentimes deleteriously affected desirable metal properties.
US. Patents 3,184,813 and 3,184,815 described excellent methods of combating the above described arduous problems. However, it would be of further benefit to the art if an additional method of stool coating were discovered which possessed added advantages of lower cost as well as enhanced efficiency. If the above described stools of big-end-down molds or base members of big-end-up molds could be protected from erosion by cascading molten metal in a more economical operation, such process would find ready acceptance in the art. Likewise, if the problem of adherence between a mold base member and subsequently formed ingot could also be overcome in a simple, efiicient and economical method, the overall casting process would be materially benefited.
OBJECTS It therefore becomes an object of the invention to provide a method of casting metal ingots into metal molds whereby adherence of the base member of the mold to the formed ingot and erosion of the same base member during ingot formation are substantially prevented.
A specific object of the invention is to inhibit such erosion and adherence by applying a film of coating material to the surface of the base member whereby these problems are over-come.
Yet another object is to provide metal molds used for casting ingots which have at least the base member of the mold protected by a film of material so that the above described problems of erosion of the base member and ad herence of same to metal ingots no longer exist to any appreciable degree.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.
THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a method of casting metal objects from metal molds has been discovered, whereby adherence of the base member of those molds to ingots formed therefrom, and erosion of these same base members during such ingot formation are substantially inhibited.
In its broadest aspects, the invention comprises the steps of applying a slurry consisting of a binder and refractory to the surface of the base member of a metal mold. In order to best achieve dual purposes of prevention of erosion of base member and non-adherence to formed ingots, the slurry should consist of at least one refractory of the following types: vitreous siilca, crystalline silica, magnesium silicates, aluminum silicates, alumina, graphite,
zirconium silicates and clay. These materials are all wellknown substances and are all commercially available. Typical aluminum silicates, for example, may include mica, a laminated type of aluminum silicate and mulor even lower. The coating becomes completely resistant to subsequent contact with water and stays tightly adherent to the base portions of the mold even under such washings.
lite, an orthorhombic aluminum silicate available from 5 After coating operations, molten metal is poured into the Island of Mull or other sources or artificially made the mold, all-owed to solidify into an ingot and the ingot by heating andalusite, sillimanite or kyanite. Excelis then separated from mold surfaces. The invention i not lent magnesium silicates are forsterite or talc, while a limited to use with specific mold sides or any particular useful zirconium silicate is zircon. A typical crystalline metal mold bottom or to use with any particular molten silica is quartz. The most preferred refractory, discussed metal. However, it has found specially preferred use in in more detail hereinafter, is vitreous silica. The binder coating cast iron metal base members for molds which used with any one or more of the above refractories should are used in forming ingots of steel. comprise colloidal silica sol and a silicic acid sol, both One of the binder components used to form the slurries of which will be fully described hereinafter. of the invention is a colloidal silica sol. These are well- The slurry is provided in an amount adequate to form a known materials and are commercially available from sevcoating of sufficient thickess to prevent the above-meneral sources of supply. A typical group of commercially tioned adherence and erosion from occurring. After the available silica sols that may be used in the practice of slurry is allowed to dry with or without application of heat, the invention are those silica sols sold under the name whereby the liquid phase is driven from the surface of the Nalcote. Silica sols of this type are described below in base member, leaving a thin film of solid refractory coat- Table I.
TABLE I Silica Sol. I II III IV V VI Percent colloidal Silica as S102 15 -3 21-22 -50 35 pH 8.6 10.2 8.6 3.7 9.0 3.5 Viscosity at 77 F., cps. 5 5 5 10 20-30 6. 5 Specific gravity at 68 F 1. 09 1.205 1.255 1.06 1.385 1. 255 Average surface area, m? per gram of Si 330-430 190-270 135-100 135-190 120-150 135-190 Average particle Size, millimicrons 7. 9 11-16 10-22 16-22 20-25 10-22 Density, lbs/gallon at 08 F 9.1 10.0 10.5 8.8 11.6 10.5 NazO, percent 0. 04 0. 40 0.10 0.05 0. 30 0.01
ing, the molten metal is thereafter poured intothe mold and on top of the now coated base member. The solidified ingot is then removed from the coated base member and mold sides.
The slurry coating is simply applied to the stool or bottom of the mold by a wide variety of methods. For example, ithe slurry may be applied by flowing it over the stool, by spray techniques, by coating the stool with some type of applicator, etc. Spray application is believed to be the most efficient and practical way of slurry application. The slurry may be applied to the stool portion of the molds before or after the metal mold sides are placed thereon.
Effecting removal of the liquid phase of the slurry from the solid refractory material may likewise be carried out in a variety of methods. 'For example, the bottom portion of the mold may be coated with the slurry and allowed to dry gradually. Another method of laying down a thin protective coating is to apply the slurry to an already heated stool or mold having an integral base portion. This is particularly preferred in that the stools and their metal mold sides or big-end-up molds are generally already hot before introduction of the molten metal due to the residual heat from the previous casting run, and in such a method drying time is a very minimum period.
Another way of applying the protective film is to coat the base member, and then heat it as slowly or rapidly as desired to drive off the liquid portion of the slurry. In any event all that is necessary is that the coating be laid down and dried in some manner after the slurry has been applied to the base member.
In the most preferred method the coating slurry is applied to stools or mold base members having a temperature ranging from that of room temperature to 1200 F., and more preferably from 200 F. to 800 F. Most preferably, best adherence of solid coating to stools is achieved by slurry application to the stools :at a temperature range.
of 200-500" F. For best results, it has been determined that films should measure in thickness from 0.01" to 3" and most preferably from 0.01" to A.
It is believed that the excellent coating success achieved by use of the above described slurries is due to their ability to form a strong ceramic coating even when aflixed to the base members of the mold at relatively low temperatures, at least under mill conditions, of say about 500 F.
Other silica sols that may be used in addition to those above, may be prepared by using several well-known conventional techniques. Perhaps the mos-t convenient method of making aqueous colloidal silica sols is described in Bird, US. Patent 2,224,355, wherein a dilute solution of an alkali metal silicate is passed in contact with a cation exchange resin in hydrogen form, whereby the silicate is converted to a dilute aqueous silicic acid sol. The dilute silicic acid sol may be both converted to a silica sol and concentrated to solids concentrations which are more economically usable from the standpoint of shipping costs and ultimate process use, by employing the techniques described in either Bechtold et al. U.S. Patent 2,574,902; Bragg et al., US. Patent 2,680,720; or Parma et a1. U.S. Patent 2,601,235. Another type of silica sol which may be used in the practices of the invention is described in the specification of Reuter, US. Patent 2,856,302. While aqueous colloidal silica sols may be used, it will be understood that other forms of colloidal silica may be employed, such as for instance, sols which contain a major portion of polar organic solvents. Said sols may be generically referred to as organo sols, and are typified by the sols described in Marshall US. Patent 2,386,247. It is only necessary that the silica particles used can be dispersed colloidally in a hydrophilic substance, such as water or lower alkyl alcohols and other organic compounds possessing relatively high dielectric constants.
In some instances mixtures of water and organic substances compatible with water may be employed as suspending media for the colloidal silica particles. Particularly preferred organic substancesare those which lower the freezing point of pure aqueous sols by their admixture with these aqueous silica sols. Such final product sols then are especially useful during the colder months of the year when they must be stored and/or used at relatively low temperature. Amines such as morpholine, diethyl amine, etc., and polyhydroxy organics as ethylene glycol, glycerine, etc., are preferred materials in making up silica sols containing these substances as sole silica suspending media or as a portion of a mixture additionally containing water. A preferred sol, winterized against freezing contains 5-50 parts by weight of polyhydroxy compound such as ethylene glycol, 20-85 parts by weight of water and 10-60 parts by weight of silica.
Regardless of the method employed to produce the colloidal silica sol containing water, polar organic liquids or mixtures of these substances as a continuous suspending phase, it is desirable that said sols contain silica particles which are dense, amorphous, and have an average particle diameter which does not exceed 150 millimicrons and is greater than millimicrons. As evidenced by a reading of Table I, all the silica sols contemplated as starting materials have an average particle size diameter well below 150 millimicrons. Preferably, the starting silica sols have an average particle size diameter of from -50 millimicrons. The silica concentration in the sols may be between 0.1% and 60% by weight silica expressed as SiO More preferred sols contain from 3.0 to 60% by weight of silica and most preferably 10'60% by weight. The molecular weight of the silica particles is in excess of 200,000 and may range as high as several million.
Other sols which may be employed as binders for the silica refractory are those known as salt-free silica sols. These are particularly preferred when the suspension media of the silica particles in the binder itself is solely a polar organic liquid or a mixture of water and polar organic liquid. Since many of the above described sols usually contain alkali metal compounds as stabilizers, they are generally not compatible with organic systems due to the fact that the salts present in the aqueous sol cause gelation or precipitation of the silica particles when the aqueous phases are exchanged for polar organic solvents. This can be avoided by use of salt-free aqueous silica sols as starting materials in preparation of pure organosols or mixtures of water and organic as silica carriers. In order to avoid this gelation elfect, it is necessary that the causative cations be removed from the surface of the colloidally dispersed silica particles and from the liquid phase of the sol. This may be readily accomplished by treating typical silica sols of the type described in Bechtold et al., US. Patent 2,547,902, with a cation exchange resin in the hydrogen form and a strong base anion exchange resin in hydroxide form. This treatment tends to produce a finished aqueous sol in which both the continuous aqueous phase of the sol and the particles of silica are considered salt-free. Typical commercially available silica sols which may be deionized to produce salt-free silica sols are those which are described in Table I above. These aqueous salt-free silica sols may be either used as such in combination with the silicic acid sol and with one or more of the named refractories to constitute a slurry coating material or may be modified whereby the aqueous phase is completely or partially exchanged for a hydrophilic polar liquid such as an alcohol or the alcohol is mixed with aqueous sol in desired proportions. The salt-free pure alcohols or aqueousalcoholic silica sols may then be easily combined with silicic acid sols and a refractory and the resultant slurry used to coat the stools.
When the particle sizes of the silica sols described above are within the ranges specified, the silica particles present in the starting aqueous or organic sol have specific surface areas of at least 20 m. /.g., and usually in excess of 100 mF/g. Further, when deionized sols are employed as a binder, they generally have a salt content expressed as Na SO of less than 0.01%.
The particular silicic acid sols used as a binder component may be produced by a wide variety of methods. All of these particular sols have average molecular weights below about 90,000. More preferably these acid sols contain silica particles having an average molecular weight of from about 1000 to 46,000. The pH of these acid sols is below 5.5 and more preferably they lie within the range of 2.5 and 3.5. The average particle diameter is less than 5 millimicrons and generally 1-4 millimicrons.
One method of preparing such acid sols is to neutralize water glass with a mineral acid. In using this method to form the acid silica sols it is necessary, however,
to remove the major portion of the salts formed by neutralization reaction. This may be accomplished by dialysis or electrodialysis, but these procedures are not adaptable to large scale economic production. An improved method for preparing acid sols has been described in Bird U.S. Patent 2,244,325. By utilizing the teachings of this patent, the preferred starting acid sols are produced. According to the Bird method, a water glass (alkaline silicate) solution is passed through a column of cation exchange material in the hydrogen form whereby the alkali metal in the water glass is exchanged for hydrogen and the resultant product is an acid silica sol of unusual purity. Generally, the pH of the sols so produced lie within the range of 2.0-4.0. In addition, the average molecular weight of the silica particles is well below 90,000. Also, silicic acid sols generally have a Si0 solids content ranging from about 2% to about 10%.
Other acid sols suitable for use in the invention may be prepared by a variation of the Bird method described above. In this embodiment the efiluent from the Bird process may then be further treated by passing it through a weak base resin in the free base form. The resultant product is then substantially stripped of any ions and is generally known as deionized. Still another variation of the technique is to employ a mixed resin bed, that is, a bed containing a weak base resin in the free base form and a strong acid resin in the hydrogen form whereby the silicic acid sol is formed simultaneously with exchange of its companion ions to produce a substantially deionized polysilicic acid sol.
While the above described methods are preferable to produce the starting acid sol, it must be understood that any appropriate method for producing an acid sol of a requisite molecular weight and pH may also be used. For example, minute amounts of the stabilizer such as alkali metal hydroxide may be used without departing from. the scope of the invention as long as the pH is not raised above the operative limits described above.
The binder itself should be composed of 4090% colloidal silica sol and 1060% silicic acid sol. More preferably, each component ranges from about 40% to about 60%. A 50%50% mixture was found to exhibit excellent performance in its intended end-use. All expressed percentages are weight percents.
As mentioned above, the most preferred refractory materials are those generally referred to as vitreous silicas. These are glassy modifications of silica, obtained by the fusion of selected low temperature crystalline forms, and are frequently referred to as quartz glass or silica glass. Specific vitreous silicas include those particles made fromfused quartz glasses, silicate glasses, silica glasses such as the well-known Vycor materials and fused silica glasses. With respect to all of these materials the thermal expansion coefiicients are relatively small in proportion to other refractories such as those of the soda-lime and lead glass types. Generally, they have thermal expansion coefficients smaller than 5x10" cm./cm./ C. Also, the silica content of these granular siliceous refractory materials is generally greater than 96% silica expressed as SiO and may range as high as 99.8% SiO Thus, by the term vitreous silica is meant a refractory comprising a silica glass having a thermal coefiicient of expansion and SiO content within the above range.
It has been determined that for best results in coating stools the refractory used in the silica slurry should be able to withstand severe heat shocks. Due to the extreme hot temperature of the molten metal as compared to that of the stool even when the latter is heated, an exceedingly abrupt change in temperature occurs when the metal contacts the stool. The coating must itself be able to withstand this heat shock to impart necessary protection to the stool base. It has been theorized that failure of some prior art materials was due, at least in part, to their inability to Withstand this sudden increase in heat, thereby resulting in cracking of the coating and subsequent exposure of the metal surface to the cascading molten metal poured into the mold.
In view of the above it is generally thought that the most preferred refractories are those which have the highest purities concomitant with'the lowest thermal coefficient of expansion. These properties are particularly posit sessed by vitreous silicas and more particularly thoseof the fused silica types. The latter materials have a silica content greater than 97% silica expressed as SiO- and a thermal coeflicient of expansion not greater than about 6X 10* cm./cm./ C.
A typical fused silica of the type described above which is extremely useful in the practice of the invention, having a thermal coefiicient of expansion of about 10 cn1./cn1./ C., has the following typical analysis:
TABLE II Ingredients: Percent by weight SiO 97.3 A1203 1.7 Sub-oxides of silica 1.0
The above type silica products are readily prepared by grinding very pure fused silica glasses. Likewise, the borosilicate glasses and Vycor silica glasses may. be also ground to produce extremely useful refractories.
The particle size of the refractory may vary over a wide range. It is preferred, however, that the refractory particles be sufiiciently small so that a uniform dispersion of refractory and binder may be made. The smaller the particle size the longer a slurry made up of binder and refractory, remains in a homogeneous state. It has been determined that particles ranging in size from 100 mesh to as low as a fraction of a micron may be employed. Preferred refractory materials have an average particle size ranging from a fraction of a micron to 500 microns in particle diameter, with particles corresponding to the lower range diameters being most preferred. Specific vitreous silica substances, marketed under the name, Nalcote fall within the above preferred particle size range and have been employed with much success in preventing.
erosion of base portions of molds and adherenceof same to the formed ingots.
The amount of binder making up a portionof the coating slurry must be such that it is present in an amount sufficient to bind the refractory particles together to thereby form a tightly adherent, continuous and unbroken coating which is securely bonded to the surface of the stool. Without proper amount of binder in relation to refractory, the resultant coating, after application and drying of slurry, exhibits a pan-cake effect with nu-.
art processes. It is understood, of course, that these exam-ples are merely illustrative, and that the invention is not limited thereto.
Example I In Order to particularly test the efliciency of the binder component of the invention, a laboratory test was devised which simulated a commercial stool coating operation. Six binder test blends were prepared having the following make-up: 90% silica sol-10% silicic acid sol;
80% silica sol-% silicic acid sol; 70% silica;sol%
silicic acid sol; 60% silica sol-% silicic acid Sol; silica sol-50% silicic acid sol and 40% silicia sol and silicic acid sol. The colloidal silica sol contained 35% silica solids, and the silicic acid sol was madeup of 8 approximately 5% solids. The binders were applied to a cast iron plate heated to about 325 F., and the coatings then inspected. In all cases, the above described binder compositions gave a hard adherent coating. Application of the colloidal sol alone also gave an acceptable coating. However, it was surprising to note that the combination of silicic acid sol and colloidal silica sol with an overall solids content of 17% was equal to or even slightly superior to the colloidal silica sol alone, having a solids content of 30%, or almost twice the solids content of the combination binder. Since the ultimate strength of the coating is derived solely from the silica solids contained in the binder with the liquid portion of the binder being volatilized off, it was entirely unexpected that the above results would be forthcoming. It is believed however that the excellent results obtained via use of the binders of the invention are attributable to the situation of a relatively wide range of silica particle sizes'donated by the combination of binder ingredients.
Example II In this case, an actual mill trial was effected. A binder of the invention was formulated by mixing in equal weight proportions a 30% aqueous colloidal silica sol corresponding to silica sol N0. 2 whose physical characteristics are tabulated in Table I, and a 5% aqueous silicic acid sol prepared according to the teachings of Bird, U.S. Patent 2,244,325. A silica slurry was made by addition of equal part of the above binder and fused silica refractory. This latter material has a wide range particle size distribution in which 100% will pass a 100' mesh sieve, will pass 325 mesh, 30% is smaller than 10 microns and the smallest particles are a fraction of a micron in size. The refractory and binder were thoroughly mixed and then coated onto a number of cast iron stools. The coatings had excellent adherence, and surface hardness and as well, were easy to apply. In comparison runs, a 30% silica sol in combination with fused silica, also at a 1:1 weight ratio, also yielded a coating having the above described excellent characteristics. However, in some instances employment of the binder composition of the invention yielded an even more adherent, coating than a binder containing only the silica sol component. Again, such results were surprising and unexpected in view of the fact that the solids content of the combination binder of the invention was almost one-half that of a binder containing silica sol as the sole ingredient.
The coatings derived from the'slurries of the invention and containing a binder of the type described herein substantially prevented erosion of the stools or base members of the metal molds during pouring of molten metal thereon. Moreover, adherence of the subsequently formed ingots to the base member after metal solidification was also substantially reduced. In addition, subsidiary good effects were also noted. For example, since erosion has been reduced to a minimal effect, life of mold bases is substantially'increased. Likewise, since generally no adherence of the mold base portions to the ingots occurs, no resort need be taken to physicallyxcontacting the two adherent articles against a third larger object such as a floor, to separate the united objects and recover the ingot. As mentioned above, not only is this separation procedure time-consuming and costly, but it frequently results in cracking or complete disintegration of the stool, making it completely unsuitable for further use. Also, since little or no erosion occurs fromv the molten metal, the amount of metal required to be cropped from the ingot is substantially reduced. As an overall advantage, the mold inventory necessary for efiicient operation may be substantially reduced through use of the slurries of the invention.
Other advantages are to be noted. For example, since semi-permanentcoatings on stools may be maintained by formation of the coating film, morepductile stools may 9 be utilized. Also, lighter stools may be employed, cutting down on track weight and track maintenance, since stools are normally carried by means of flat cars on rails to the point of pouring of metal. Again, since the coating appears to withstand a wide range of temperatures, it is possible that severe temperature surface applications may be performed which were heretofore impossible due to failure of prior art coatings. Many other advantages of the mold forming process of the invention are apparent.
It is understood, of course, that the binders of the invention may be utilized with other known binders such as ethyl silicate, aluminum phosphate, sodium silicate, etc.
The invention is hereby claimed as follows:
1. An improved metal mold for casting metal ingots which comprises an open-top mold having at least its base member coated with a thin solid protective film of refractory material derived from drying a slurry comprising at least one refractory selected from the group consisting of vitreous silica, crystalline silica, aluminum silicate, alumina, graphite, zirconium silicate, magnesium silicate, and clay suspended in a binder comprising a colloidal silica sol and a silicic acid sol, said binder being present in said slurry in an amount sufficient to bind the refractory materials together to thereby form a tightly adherent coating which is bonded to said base member, said coated base member being further characterized as being nonerosive to flowing molten metal and non-adherent to subsequently formed solid metal ingots.
2. The metal mold of claim 1 wherein said coating is derived from a slurry comprising 10-70 parts by weight of vitreous silica having a silica content not less than 96% silica, expressed as S102, and a thermal coeflicient of expansion of less than 5X 10- cm./cm./ C.; and 30-90 parts by weight of said binder.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,902 2/ 1955 Strachan 106-38.3 X 2,806,270 9/1957 Shaul 10638.3 X 2,842,444 7/1958 Emblem l0638.3 3,035,318 5/1962 Campbell 164-72 3,059,296 10/1962 North 10638.27 X 3,184,813 5/ 1965 OShea 164-72 3,184,815 5/1965 Reuter 16472 3,209,421 10/ 1965' Shepherd 106 38.3 X 3,234,607 2/1966 Hammerlund 106-38.3 X 3,303,030 2/1967 Preston 10638.9 X 3,314,117 4/1967 Fishman et a1. 106-383 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.
E. MAR, Assistant Examiner.
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US659621A US3396935A (en) | 1965-08-27 | 1967-08-10 | Metal ingot mold with protective coating |
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US483301A US3357481A (en) | 1965-08-27 | 1965-08-27 | Method of inhibiting erosion on mold surfaces |
US659621A US3396935A (en) | 1965-08-27 | 1967-08-10 | Metal ingot mold with protective coating |
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US3888297A (en) * | 1973-11-02 | 1975-06-10 | Canron Ltd | Method of producing ferrous castings with cast-in ferrous inserts |
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US3977885A (en) * | 1973-05-17 | 1976-08-31 | E/M Lubricants, Inc. | Glass manufacturing composition |
US4188416A (en) * | 1978-12-05 | 1980-02-12 | Nalco Chemical Company | Sprayable material for repairing base plates of ingot molds |
US4303700A (en) * | 1978-12-05 | 1981-12-01 | Nalco Chemical Company | Sprayable material for repairing base plates of ingot molds |
US4344556A (en) * | 1979-05-29 | 1982-08-17 | Knapp Donald K | Welding backup tape and its method of manufacture |
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US3519457A (en) * | 1965-12-30 | 1970-07-07 | Roderic H Hammerton | Treatment of ingot moulds |
US3656983A (en) * | 1970-10-14 | 1972-04-18 | Us Army | Shell mold composition |
US3761047A (en) * | 1971-08-09 | 1973-09-25 | Gould Inc | Mold coating |
US3885062A (en) * | 1973-05-17 | 1975-05-20 | Em Lubricants Inc | Process for treating molds used in molding glass parts |
US3977885A (en) * | 1973-05-17 | 1976-08-31 | E/M Lubricants, Inc. | Glass manufacturing composition |
US3975556A (en) * | 1973-09-19 | 1976-08-17 | Armco Steel Corporation | Method for preventing coating metal pickup on hot-dip coating line rolls |
US3888297A (en) * | 1973-11-02 | 1975-06-10 | Canron Ltd | Method of producing ferrous castings with cast-in ferrous inserts |
US3949937A (en) * | 1975-01-29 | 1976-04-13 | Nalco Chemical Company | System for handling and applying a non-suspended refractory slurry |
US4188416A (en) * | 1978-12-05 | 1980-02-12 | Nalco Chemical Company | Sprayable material for repairing base plates of ingot molds |
US4303700A (en) * | 1978-12-05 | 1981-12-01 | Nalco Chemical Company | Sprayable material for repairing base plates of ingot molds |
US4344556A (en) * | 1979-05-29 | 1982-08-17 | Knapp Donald K | Welding backup tape and its method of manufacture |
US4832105A (en) * | 1988-01-13 | 1989-05-23 | The Interlake Corporation | Investment casting method and apparatus, and cast article produced thereby |
US6334603B1 (en) * | 1998-02-26 | 2002-01-01 | Mitsubishi Materials Corporation | Mold for producing silicon ingot and method for fabricating the same |
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