Casting
Casting and Carbon Additives: FAQ
Why add carbon to green sand? To create lustrous carbon and a reducing atmosphere that improves surface finish.…
Metal Casting and Carbon Additives
Casting process guides and how carbon additives improve surface finish, shake-out and casting quality.
Casting
Brass and Bronze Casting: Getting a Better Surface
Copper alloys are cast at 1000–1200°C and are valued for their appearance. A clean surface reduces polishing. Small…
Casting
Veining Defects and the Role of Additives
Veining appears as thin fins of metal on casting surfaces, usually on cores. It is caused by sand…
Casting
How to Run a Gilsonite Trial in Your Foundry
Switching carbon additives should be done step by step. Record current additive, dosage, LOI, volatiles, sand properties and…
Casting
Mould and Core Coatings Containing Gilsonite
Refractory coatings protect mould and core surfaces from molten metal. Fine gilsonite can enhance their performance. Micronized gilsonite…
Casting
Reducing Casting Costs with Better Carbon Additives
Foundry margins are tight. The carbon additive is a small cost item but influences large costs downstream. Compare…
Casting
Carbon Additives in No-Bake and Chemically Bonded Sands
No-bake (self-setting) sands use resin binders instead of clay. Carbon additives are less common but can be useful.…
Casting
Formulating Facing Sand with Gilsonite
Facing sand is a richer sand mixture placed directly against the pattern to give a better casting surface.…
Casting
Gilsonite for Heavy-Section Castings
Large castings — machine bases, mill parts, counterweights — remain hot for a long time, increasing the risk…
Casting
Sand System Control: Keeping Your Green Sand Stable
A stable sand system produces consistent castings. These are the key parameters to control. Add gilsonite in proportion…
Casting
Gas Porosity in Castings: Causes and Additive Control
Gas porosity — blowholes and pinholes — is one of the most common casting defects. Carbon additives can…
Casting
Carbon Additives for Automotive Castings
Engine blocks, cylinder heads, brake drums and discs are high-volume, high-quality castings. Foundries serving the automotive industry need…
Recommended product
Data sheet
Foundry Grade Gilsonite
| Property | Typical value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Black powder | Visual |
| Particle size | 100 – 300 mesh | Sieve |
| Volatile matter | 55 – 75 % | ASTM D3175 |
| Ash content, max | 5 % | ASTM D3174 |
| Moisture, max | 1 % | ASTM D95 |
| Softening point (R&B) | 150 – 200 °C | ASTM D36 |
| Typical dosage | 0.3 – 1.0 % (iron) | |
| Packing | 25 kg bags palletized; 1 MT jumbo bags for blending plants. | |
Typical values. The final specification is confirmed in the COA of each shipment.