SOME STUDIES ON THE FLOW ABILITY OF MOULDING SAND.

Experiments were carried out to make a comparative study of the merits and draw-backs of three different laboratory tests for flow ability measurement, viz.,AFS test, +GF  test and Kennedy method, and also flow value that is supposedly representative of this property and which is calculated on the basis of principles of soil mechanics with a new method of finding flow ability of sand during actual mould preparation (jolt squeezing) using test patterns. It was found that all the three test patterns showed similar behaviour in the suitability for ‘measuring flow ability and also that among the four methods Kennedy flow ability test was the most suitable for measuring flow atility in the laboratory with the +GF+ method trailing behid it.The effect of additives like dexrin, wood flour, silica flour, sea coal and Iron oxide on the fiowability of a typical grey-iron foundry sand have also been investigated.