The paper presents the results of thermal analysis of polymer material in the form of starch derivatives in the form of sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS–Na) with degree of substitution (DS) in the range 0.2–0.9 for the preparation of foundry binder. In this work, the thermal behavior of the modified starch and qualitative assessment of degradation products released during pyrolysis were determined and comprised. The analysis of the course of progressive decomposition of the starch material under controlled heating in the range of 25–1000 °C in anaerobic atmosphere was based on the results of thermal analysis methods (TG–DTG–DSC) in combination with the results of pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS). The detailed TG–DTG–DSC analysis allowed to determine and compare the temperature at which the process of decomposition of carboxymethyl starches sodium salts with different degrees of substitution begins and to determine the course of its degradation under conditions corresponding to the contact of the foundry binder in the form of starch material with liquid metal (conditions like in foundry mold). Thermogravimetric analysis shows that decomposition processes are multistage, and dehydration is the first step of decomposition. Moreover, TG–DTG–DSC analyses indicate that the thermal stability and the decomposition path of tested compounds depend on the DS. Results of Py–GC/MS studies showed that the formation of decomposition products (including cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons) in a predetermined temperature range is lower in the case of CMS–Na with high DS.

The article aims to verify the possibility of obtaining an organic–inorganic material acting as both a binder and a lustrous carbon carrier in bentonite-bonded molding sands. Due to the wide industrial application, organoclays can be considered as innovative materials supporting the foundry technology in meeting environmental requirements. In this study, the organic modification of montmorillonite in calcium bentonite (SN) was performed by poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and its sodium salt (PAA/Na). Additionally, for the purpose of comparison, the sodium-activated bentonite/poly(acrylic acid) (SN-Na/PAA) composites were also prepared. The collective analysis of the research results used in the assessment of the mineral/polymer interaction mechanism indicates surface adsorption combined with the intercalation of PAA monolayer into the mineral interlayer spaces. Materials were characterized by the combination of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) methods. Based on the XRD analysis, the influence of PAA/Na on the aluminosilicate layered structure was found to be destructive, which may adversely affect the binding properties of SN/PAA/Na composites considered as a potential group of new foundry binders. The SN/PAA and SN-Na/PPA composites (with appropriate polymer content) can act as a binding agent in the synthetic molding sand technology, despite coating the bentonite particles with polymer molecules. The risk of losing the mineral′s binding capacity is reduced by the good binding properties of pol(acrylic acid) itself. The article is the first stage (preceding the thermal analysis and the strength tests of molding sands with the prepared organobentonites) in determining the possibility of obtaining a new full-value foundry binder in molding sands with bentonite.

This paper presents results of thermoanalytical and structural research on phenolic binder used in foundry for the preparation of moulding sand. The binder has been prepared based on resole type phenolic resin with the addition of ester hardener. The aim of the study was to determine the structural changes taking place in the phenolic binder under the influence of temperature. Results show that in the investigated range of temperatures, phenolic binder exhibits three exothermic thermal effects accompanying the decomposition process. The test results using the Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) technique show that the addition of a hardener stabilizes the binder structure within methylene bridges. The reduction in the reaction rate observed in the DTA curve at about 330 °C can be associated with the formation of gaseous products by decomposition of the binder or, as suggested by the literature data, the formation of triple bonds and CN-HCN groups.