USES OF WASTE FOUNDRY SANDS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Molds and cores for metal castings are normally sands with chemical or clay binders and other additives. After the casting is complete, the sand is disaggregated, and it is judged whether it is suitable for reuse. However, after several uses, the sand is no longer suitable and is designated as a waste foundry sand (WFS). Such waste has been disposed in landfills, public and private. Although some WFSs may contain excessive amounts of harmful heavy metals, those discarded after ferrous castings contain only iron, and this concentration is controlled by magnetic extraction from the waste. At this point, only WFSs from ferrous castings are thought to be environmentally acceptable. Through laboratory study of the mechanical and physical properties of WFSs from the greensand, shell, and chemically bonded processes for ferrous castings, a number of civil engineering uses have been identified: embankment fill, subgrade, flowable fill, and fine aggregate replacement in asphaltic concrete. The index properties of the WFSs and the appropriate test parameters for its various acceptable uses are described. The next step is to build demonstration and implementation projects to prove the practicality of the use and to provide long-term evidence of the absence of significant environmental effects.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 109-113
  • Monograph Title: Environmental testing and evaluation of stabilized wastes, performance of stabilized materials, and new aggregate tests
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00713593
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Nov 22 1995 12:00AM