THE HEVI-SAND PROCESS - South African Institute of Foundrymen

Is this new technology a good reason to consider changing foundry chromite sand quality assurance parameters?

Synopsis

Foundry grade chromite sand production methods and acceptance specifications have changed little in the last 50 years. This paper reviews the old, the existing, and the new “Hevi-Sand Process” used to produce foundry chromite sand. The advent of new mining and processing technology , coupled with changes over the years in foundry practices and procedures, suggests that new and standardized criteria for specifying and testing of Hevi-sand processes products, (foundry chromite sands), is long over due. This paper is therefore presented as a discussion document for change.

The vast majority of chromite sand used in foundries comes from South Africa. While there are large chrome ore deposits in other regions, the type of formation, crystal size and impurities, result in most instances, in undesirable foundry properties. The rest of this paper therefore only considers foundry chromite sands from South Africa.

The area shown in fig1 is the Bushveld complex which contains among other things the worlds largest chrome ore deposits. These deposits were formed through precipitation, as an underground magma lake cooled, and have been laid down as seams of variable quality and thickness, created by each change in the conditions within the magma lake. Subsequent earth movements have twisted the seams so that in some places they are visible on the surface and in others are inaccessible at any reasonable cost…

Download Presentations below:

University of Johannesburg

Monthly Newsletter

Thank you!