Effect of Moisture Content on the Moulding Properties of River Niger Sand Using Tudun-Wada Clay as a Binder.

Abstract

This work was conducted in order to investigate the moisture content of the moulding properties of River Niger sand using Tudun-Wada clay as a binder. All the result obtained show that the sand properties were affected by the quantity of moisture content and other factor such as clay. The moisture content has the effect on the sand properties at varying quantity of moisture, sand and fixed amount of clay. The higher value of green strength show that the mould produced would have more resistance to wear and eternal pressure. Increase in permeability number show that Tudun-Wada clay moulds are better venting out evolved gas, therefore, when hot molten metal are poured into the mould such defect as blow and holes would be eliminated. River Niger sand is found to be suitable for use as foundry moulding sand. Tudun-Wada clay could serve as a satisfactory alternative to bentonite for use as binding clay in foundry and mould. The moulding mixture of Tudun-Wada clay and River Niger sand with appropriate water content is suitable for ferrous and non-ferrous alloy casting of component parts.