No-Bake Phenolic-Alkaline System (Alpha Set Process)

Phenolic-alkaline system for the manufacture of cores and molds according to the XTS process. The process is an alkaline phenol-formaldehyde resin cured with ester hardeners of various curing rates.
This process can be used to make cores and molds in the production of a wide range of castings from a wide variety of metals and alloys. Resin consumption usually varies from 1.0 to 2.0% by weight of sand, and the optimal dosage of hardener is 20-25% of the resin content.

The advantages of the phenol-alkaline system include:

– Minimal odor emission during molding and pouring.

– Plasticity of forms, since the complete polymerization of the mixture occurs when pouring metal.

– The amount of gas generated during filling and the rate of its formation is lower than other systems, and the gases themselves do not contain either nitrogen or sulfur.
These characteristics make this system ideal for molds used for casting steel and nodular cast iron.

– Increased erosion resistance of molds due to instant hardening of surfaces upon contact with liquid metal.

– The setting time varies depending on the type and not the amount of hardener,
because the chemical reaction that causes curing is not a catalyzed reaction.