NetCastPL4.0 Seminars Series – 24 February 2025

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NetCastPL4.0 Seminars Series –February 24, 2025, 02:00 – 03:15 pm

Aims of the seminars

Today’s seminar presentations are focused on Green Molding technologies, specifically inorganic foundry binders for sand molding processes. The researchers at Aalto University and AGH have collaborated on these topics even before NetCastPL4.0, and the aim of the seminar is to present the state of research on this topic.

02:00 pm – Kalle Jalava

• State-of-the-art and challenges in inorganic binder systems

Inorganic binders have been used in foundries since mid-twentieth century. However, due to certain challenges with ferrous cast materials these binders have had, their use and popularity have been limited. Some of the challenges of inorganic binders include poor knock-out performance compared to organic binders, susceptibility to moisture, difficulty with reclamation, need for heat or CO2 for hardening, to name a few. The advantages of no-bake organic binders in terms of their ease of use, good mold quality, process reliability, and efficient sand reclamation make them popular for foundry use. But in recent times, a strong drive toward more sustainable manufacturing has emerged.

Kalle Jalava

Dr. Kalle Jalava has a Master’s and Doctor of Science degrees in the field of Mechanical Engineering from Aalto University, with specializations in Foundry Technology and Engineering Materials. His research interests encompass moulding processes and shaping methods, metallurgy and materials, and how the future of those can be developed to be more sustainable.

02:30 pm – Nurul Anwar 

• Potential of solid inorganic foundry binders

As the global push for sustainability reshapes manufacturing, sand casting is no exception. Inorganic binders have taken centre stage in the search for greener solutions, but much of the focus has been on liquid sodium silicate binders. In this presentation, we’ll introduce you to an exciting alternative: the solid inorganic binder (hydrous solid silicates). Join us as we explore how this innovative binder could drive even greater sustainability in casting. We’ll dive into the key reasons for choosing solid binders over liquid ones, sharing insights from past and current research—the breakthroughs, the successes, and the challenges still ahead taking into account the different stages of sand-casting process: from patterns to the final product.

Nurul  Anwar

Dr. Nurul Anwar earned his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Production Engineering Technologies, from Aalto University in 2018, followed by a doctorate in 2024. His research focuses on sustainable sand-casting solutions, particularly inorganic binders and more specifically the solid versions. Now a researcher at Aalto University, he continues to advance this technology for future deployment in foundries as a sustainable foundry binder of the future.