ASK Chemicals presents a host of innovative solutions at Metal + Metallurgy China 2012

Zhenjiang New District, China – ASK Chemicals New Materials presents itself at Metal + Metallurgy China 2012 with its comprehensive casting know-how and latest product developments for the foundry industry. ASK Chemicals’ exhibits at this year’s show from May 9 to 12 will be more innovative than ever.  

The visitors can expect to meet a competent team of foundry experts and presentation of innovative foundry resources for all the process steps in a foundry: binders, additives, and coatings for the core shop, filters and coatings for the molding line, and inoculants, alloys, and magnesium treatment by cored wire for the melting shop.  

Innovative products for Chinese foundries

ASK Chemicals will be highlighting especially its innovative INOTEC™ inorganic binder technology, which has already proven its suitability for series production. In addition to achieving a 98% reduction in emissions, this INOTEC™ technology also has a positive effect on the material properties of the casting – a success story that can be attributed primarily to the good interaction between ASK research and customer-friendly implementation. Additional economic benefits are achieved through cost reductions in areas such as air treatment and tool maintenance. ASK Chemicals inorganic binder technology reinforces once more the company’s focus on sustainable and innovative solutions for the foundry industry.  

ISOCURE™ FOCUS, a highly efficient cold box binder system, also helps to reduce emissions significantly. This new generation of cold box binders features high reactivity and productivity, with a 25 percent reduction in the use of binding agents and catalysts. In addition, the use of mineral additives is able to reduce the development of disagreeable odors. The low admixture quantities required for the HE binder system mean significantly lower emissions and lower costs. Furthermore, ISOCURE™ FOCUS prevents condensate adhesion and reduces the time and effort spent on cleaning. The use of the new HE system can considerably increase the availability of tools and molds – another win for profitability and productivity. Even thin core geometries, such as those required in cylinder heads or engine blocks, which are exposed to heavy thermal loads, can be manufactured using reliable processes and in an environmentally friendly manner.  

With its PEP SET™ QUANTUM series, ASK Chemicals sets new standards in no-bake foundries. PEP SET™ QUANTUM binders can lower smoke emissions and odor intensity thanks to their unique combination of chemistry, raw materials, and manufacturing processes. These PUNB binder systems offer some of the lowest phenol and naphthalene levels in the industry. They also offer very low levels of formaldehyde. The Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) contained in these binder systems are among the lowest in the industry. All of these environmental features set these systems apart from what the industry has historically employed and expected from a PUNB binder system.
For large-scale castings ASK Chemicals is introducing the Magnaset™ system, an acid cured binder system. Unlike conventional phenolic or furan resins, Magnaset™ binders allow for the usage of minimum amounts of acid catalyst. This benefit dramatically reduces sulfur build-up in reclaimed sand, leading to reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and improved metallurgical properties, especially with ductile iron castings and steel applications, where high sulfur can cause defects.  

Lastly, ASK Chemicals’ portfolio is topped off with its comprehensive range of risers and filters.  

ASK Chemicals at the CFA congress

ASK Chemicals will be presenting at the China Foundry Association Congress two papers. Dr. Jens Müller, Global Head of Inorganic Binder Systems, will be presenting ASK Chemicals INOTEC technology, while Reinhard Stötzel will be presenting a new coatings and additive concept that has arisen from international research collaboration. The paper will deal with new concepts for a comprehensive approach to defect and residue-free castings. The latest findings of these studies were achieved as a result of a multinational development project and have led to improvements in new high-performance coatings for automotive casting.  

Significant value to the foundry market

ASK Chemicals offers significant value added to the foundry – not only through its excellent products but also thanks to its experts, who understand the entire casting process in every detail and according to every demand. ASK Chemicals is able to offer customer-specific solutions by fine-tuning product performance and the casting process in a way that the specific foundry can produce the required casting quality under most competitive conditions of the foundry setup.  

“Thanks to our profound casting competence and our out-and-out customer orientation, ASK Chemicals provides real added value to Chinese foundries. We form strong and enduring partnerships with our customers – to our mutual benefit,” Wenhui Huang, managing director of ASK Chemicals in China, states.