Selection of protective coatings of moulds for castings of High-manganese cast steel in dependence of the applied moulding sand kind

Abstract

High-manganese cast steels are characterised by a high abrasion resistance under friction conditions with a simultaneous influence of pressure and impacts. This cast steel is especially suitable for castings of excavator's scoops, track links, streetcars crossovers, parts of crushers and mills for braking up of hard materials [1-4]. In order to obtain high quality castings of high-manganese cast steels in moulds on the high-silica sand matrices it is necessary to apply protective coatings, which prevent a direct contact between metal and matrix (Si02). Manganese after being poured into a mould can undergo a partial oxidation forming MnO, which reacts with silica. As a result low-melting manganese silicates are formed, which in a form of a tight layer adhere to the casting surface, significantly increasing a labour input related to cleaning. Three kinds of protective coatings were tested: zirconium, corundum and magnesite. As a base moulding sands on high-silica sand matrices with three kinds of resol resins were applied. The quality of the obtained casting surface was assessed in dependence of the protective coating and resin kind and also in dependence of the metallostatic pressure value.