Establishment of unit for recovery of foundry sand contaminated by phenolic resin by heat process

• Grant number: 02/07929-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 2003
• End date: November 30, 2003
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Transformation Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Jose Maia Dantas
• Grantee: Jose Maia Dantas
• Company: Metalúrgica Piacentini & Cia Ltda

Abstract

The metal casting industry in Brazil is beginning to take steps to reduce the negative impact of its activity on the environment. Efforts in this direction stem, in good part, from the recent passing of a new environmental law which lays down more severe punishments, but undoubtedly they are also related to a new vision on the subject on the part of business owners. The other consideration which should encourage foundries to look for means to regenerate the sand they use in their manufacturing processes is the high cost of waste, which hovers around R$ 70.00 per ton. In this project it is intended to design and establish a demonstration unit with a capacity of up to 1 ton per hour, for the recuperation of foundry sand contaminated with phenolic resins. Initially, an assessment should be undertaken in the region of Piracicaba, on the fate of the foundry sand contaminated with phenolic resin. The sand will be classified in accordance with Norm NBR 10004, in addition to classification studies regarding the sublimation and decomposition kinematics of the phenolic resin. It is also intended to carry out the physico-chemical characterization of the foundry sand using conventional analysis techniques, such as the use of the radioactive tracer technique to check on changes in the size of the sand particles contaminated during the heat treatment, making it possible to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed process. (AU)