Gilsonite is a hydrocarbon source and contains an interesting content of carbon atoms in form of fixed carbon and lustrous carbon. The availability of lustrous carbon assists in using Gilsonite in foundry sand additives in metal refractories, Ingot Moldings and Briquette or Pellet Binding. This has caused Gilsonite to replace the common material called SEACOAL in the industry through the years.
Gilsonite High Lustrous Carbon Content improves the final quality of the finishing significantly and it is very suitable for molding high value metals. Also the mold release is more effective with presence of Gilsonite as the Gas Generation is twice higher than sea coal. Carbonic Nature of Gilsonite adapts to the high temperature molding procedures well and reduces the reaction between the casting and the mold.
Gilsonite contains two types of carbon molecules, straight carbon and ringed carbon molecules. When heat is applied to Gilsonite, the two components separate. The ringed carbon vaporizes and changes to Volatile matter and decrease the carbon content of the material gradually. Eventually The fixed carbon is the portion of material that remains as residue after volatile matter distills off by deducting the sum of moisture and ash content from the residue weight. The fixed carbon is essentially carbon molecules, but also contains trace quantities of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur which were not driven off with the gases.
This heating process affect the mechanical properties of the materials exposed to the release volatile matter, and the higher the temperature the affect will be more on the exposed materials. The above concept and presence of carbon molecules in Gilsonite results in the below advantages of applying it into the foundry and refractories application:
- Triple gas generation comparing sea coal for better mold release
- High lustrous carbon for better finish
- Reductive atmosphere for less reaction between mold and casting for fewer imperfections
For more information about Gilsonite please visit product page:
