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: 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.