Abstract
Silica sand, zircon sand, and steel shots were used as mold packing materials in lost foam casting of the aluminum alloy bar. Vibration acceleration in three directions and temperatures in the casting and mold were measured, and packing and cooling characteristics of these materials were investigated. Packing densities increased with increase in vibration magnitude and time, and were $1.41{\sim}1.49g/cm^2$ for silica sand, $2.54{\sim}2.86g/cm^2$ for zircon sand, and $3.92{\sim}4.52g/cm^2$ for steel shots. Sound castings were obtained only without evacuation of the flask during pouring. Solidification time became faster in order of silica sand, zircon sand and steel shot packing because steel shot has the highest cooling capacity of them. Solidification time of steel shot packing was shortened to about 1/2 of silica sand packing. Cooling capacity of sand mold was generally evaluated by heat diffusivity of the mold, however could be simply evaluated with specific heat per unit volume of the packing material in lost foam casting.
