Minerals Used for Foundry Industry

The foundry industry depends on high-performance minerals to enhance mold strength, thermal stability, metal flow, and casting quality. Minerals like Talc, Calcium Carbonate, Dolomite, Kaolin, Quartz, Feldspar, Bentonite, Graphite, Iron Oxides, Carbonaceous Products, and Ferro Alloys play a crucial role in molding, core-making, and metal casting applications.

At Ashok Minerals, we supply premium foundry-grade minerals that ensure superior casting precision, mold durability, and metallurgical efficiency. Below is a breakdown of each mineral’s chemical properties, uses, and significance in foundry applications.

1. Talc

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
• Hydrophobic, chemically inert, and high-temperature resistant.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Acts as a parting agent, preventing sand molds from sticking.
• Improves surface finish and mold release properties.
• Reduces casting defects and enhances lubrication.

At Ashok Minerals, we supply high-purity talc, ensuring smooth mold release and better casting precision.

2. Calcium Carbonate (Calcite) – Precipitated, Coated, and Ground

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: CaCO₃
• High brightness, fine particle size, and excellent thermal stability.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Improves sand mold stability and thermal resistance.
• Acts as a fluxing agent in metal smelting.
• Used in core-making and casting coatings.

At Ashok Minerals, we provide PCC, GCC, and Coated Calcium Carbonate to enhance molding efficiency and casting performance.

3. Dolomite

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: CaMg(CO₃)₂
• High-temperature resistance and strong fluxing properties.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Acts as a flux in metal casting and smelting.
• Improves thermal stability in foundry molds.
• Reduces casting defects and enhances metal fluidity.

Ashok Minerals supplies high-quality Dolomite for superior foundry applications.

4. Hydrous China Clay / Kaolin

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄
• High brightness and excellent dispersion properties.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Enhances mold surface smoothness and stability.
• Improves core-making and refractory coatings.
• Acts as a binding agent in sand molds.

At Ashok Minerals, we supply premium Hydrous Kaolin for precision casting applications.

5. Quartz / Silica

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: SiO₂
• High hardness and thermal stability.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Used as a primary molding sand component.
• Provides thermal resistance and dimensional accuracy in castings.
• Improves flowability and mold permeability.

At Ashok Minerals, we provide high-purity Quartz/Silica for foundry-grade sand and casting applications.

6. Feldspar – Potassium Feldspar & Sodium Feldspar

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: KAlSi₃O₈ (Potassium Feldspar), NaAlSi₃O₈ (Sodium Feldspar)
• Acts as a natural flux.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Enhances sand mold stability and heat resistance.
• Reduces thermal expansion in molds and cores.
• Improves casting precision by preventing warping.

At Ashok Minerals, we supply high-quality Feldspar for casting mold applications.

7. Bentonite

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: (Na,Ca)₀.₃(Al,Mg)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂·nH₂O
• High swelling capacity and water absorption.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Acts as a binding agent in sand casting molds.
• Improves mold strength, thermal stability, and gas permeability.
• Reduces casting defects and improves mold durability.

At Ashok Minerals, we supply high-quality Bentonite, ensuring better mold cohesion and casting accuracy.

8. Graphite – Natural & Synthetic

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: C
• High thermal conductivity and lubricating properties.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Used as a lubricant in mold coatings.
• Enhances metal flow and casting finish.
• Provides thermal shock resistance in refractory linings.

At Ashok Minerals, we provide Natural and Synthetic Graphite for high-performance foundry applications.

9. Iron Oxides – Micaceous Iron Oxide, Red Iron Oxide, Yellow Iron Oxide

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: Fe₂O₃ (Red), FeO(OH) (Yellow), Fe₂O₃ with lamellar structure (Micaceous Iron Oxide)
• High corrosion resistance and thermal stability.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Improves mold durability and casting finish.
• Enhances heat retention and slag removal in metal casting.
• Used in core-making and casting coatings.

10. Carbon & Other Carbonaceous Products – Calcined Petroleum Coke, Graphitized Petroleum Coke, Coke

Chemical Properties

• Chemical Formula: C
• High carbon content and excellent thermal conductivity.

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Enhances metal carburization in castings.
• Used as a reducing agent in metal smelting.
• Improves casting performance and graphite nucleation.

At Ashok Minerals, we supply premium Carbonaceous Products to optimize foundry processes.

11. Ferro Alloys – Ferro Silicon, Ferro Manganese, Ferro Chrome, Silico Manganese, Slag, Inoculants

Chemical Properties

• Main Elements: Si, Mn, Fe, Cr

Uses in Foundry Industry

• Enhances metal strength, hardness, and ductility.
• Acts as a deoxidizer and alloying agent in cast metals.
• Used in gray iron, ductile iron, and steel castings.

Icon Ferro Alloys, our sister company, supplies high-quality Ferro Alloys for metallurgical and foundry applications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are minerals essential in foundry applications?

They improve mold strength, casting precision, and thermal resistance.

2. How does Bentonite improve sand casting?

Bentonite acts as a binder, enhancing mold cohesion and reducing casting defects.

3. What is the role of Graphite in foundry applications?

Graphite provides lubrication, heat resistance, and improved metal flow.

4. How does Quartz/Silica impact casting molds?

It offers high-temperature resistance, dimensional accuracy, and gas permeability.

For high-quality minerals for foundry applications, Ashok Minerals is your trusted supplier.

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