Abstract: A release agent is disclosed for use with an organic binder system used in metal casting. The binder system has a Part I component including an epoxy resin and a free radical initiator and a Part II component having an epoxy resin and an acrylate, where the Part I and Part II components are kept separate until the time of use. The release agent will typically have a molecular weight in the range of 150 to 160, with eight to ten carbon atoms. Two examples of the epoxide are pinene oxide and decene-1 oxide, each of which is effective as an internal release agent when present in the binder for a cold box process in the range of about 0.15% to about 1% of the total weight of the Part I and Part II components.

Abstract: A sand additive for use in a “no bake” foundry mix composition having a polyurethane-based binder system reduces the amount of smoke emitted when molds and cores formed from the composition are exposed to molten metal, as compared to when the sand additive is not used. The sand additive comprises yellow iron oxide having the chemical formula Fe(OH)3. It can also comprise at least one of red iron oxide, black iron oxide and wüstite. In such cases, the yellow iron oxide accounts for about 10 to about 40 weight percent of the combined weight of the yellow iron oxide, red iron oxide, black iron oxide and wüstite, and preferably, about 20 to about 30 weight percent of the combined weight of the yellow iron oxide, red iron oxide, black iron oxide and wüstite.

Abstract: A no bake process is provided for preparing a foundry shape. A major amount of an appropriate foundry aggregate, especially a sand that has been mechanically-reclaimed, is mixed with an amount of halloysite tubes. A binder system, especially a water-based binder, such as an aqueous alkaline phenolic resole resin, is added to the mixed aggregate and halloysite, and a liquid co-reactant for curing the binder is also added. By intimately mixing the components, a foundry molding compound is formed and it can be placed into a mold or patter to cure into a foundry shape. When removed from the mold or pattern, the foundry shape can be used to cast molten metal.

Abstract: A liner protects an interior surface of a chute that transfers workable foundry molding mix from a mixer to a machine for molding and hardening. The liner has an upper border portion and body portion. The upper border portion secures the liner to an upper portion of the chute. The body portion has at least one panel of a flexible material and is sized and adapted to line the interior surface of the chute. The liner also has a plurality of apertures through the upper border portion for attaching the upper border portion to the upper portion of the chute. The flexible material of the body portion is a woven fabric with polymeric fibers and, optionally, a polymeric coating.

Abstract: Casting of non-ferrous metals, especially aluminum and magnesium, can have problems with erosion, in which molten metal contacts the mold or core surfaces during the pouring process, resulting in the sand being dislodged. Binder systems addressing this issue often use bisphenol F epoxy resin. A binder system is provided in which a major portion of the epoxy resin component is a bisphenol epoxy resin that has been modified by incorporating oxazolidone rings into an epoxy backbone of the bisphenol epoxy resin, especially a bisphenol A epoxy resin. The modification is preferably achieved by reacting the diglycidyl ether of the bisphenol with a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying market share and sales potential are provided. Data is retrieved from databases with sales revenue potential and forecasted sales revenue of a company. Retrieved data is categorized to reflect user input indicating a type of market share analysis to be performed. The categorized data is provided at a graphical representation comprising a bar for each category. A first portion of the bar reflects a total value of the potential sales revenue and a second portion of the bar reflects the forecasted sales revenue such that relative market share may be quickly assessed.

Abstract: Defects can arise in a product of a metal casting process from reactions occurring at a metal-mold interface. A method that reduces the defects uses an organic binder system by introducing a separate third component to a two-part polyurethane-based binder system used in the cold box or no bake process. The third part is added only after the first two parts are mixed with a refractory molding material to provide a shapeable foundry mix. The third part is an alkyl silicate, such as tetraethyl orthosilicate (“TEOS”), an alkyl orthoformate, such as trimethyl orthoformate (TMOF) or triethyl orthoformate (TEOF), or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating effective sales are provided. A database contains location and potential revenue data for a plurality of sales targets. A graphical user interface (“GUI”) is generated at an electronic display for a mobile device. The GUI includes a map with selectable icons representing sales targets, displayed at their respective locations, within a distance of the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the identification of potential sales targets by tracking and providing sales target and sales data in an interactive, unified, graphical and coded fashion. The system is adapted to assist sales associates traveling in the field to identify sales targets, and their sales potential, easily, interactively, graphically, and in a unified manner. The specific structure and layout of the graphical user interface provides new functionality to the user and aids the user in quickly and efficiently providing a graphical and unified map view of potential sales targets coded by icon shape and color, where the color of the icon is determined by the sales potential of the sales target.

Abstract: A sleeve (10) allows flow against gravity of molten metal into a casting mold. The sleeve has a sleeve body (20) with a longitudinal axis that defines a flow conduit for the metal. A check valve (30) is positioned in the flow conduit, arranged for limited axial movement in the sleeve between a closed position and an open position, although it is operatively positioned to be in the closed position in the absence of the pressurized metal. The check valve has a spool (32) with an internal flow conduit, a top end of the conduit blocked by an end cap (40). Flanges (36, 38) on the spool provide the limited axial movement in the sleeve. When lifted into the open position, metal flows into the spool flow conduit and through a porous structure of the spool, causing laminar flow and filtering inclusions.