Cope/drag interface sealing article for the metal casting industry, and method

摘要

A fiber-reinforced sealing article disposed between an upper sand mold portion (cope) and lower sand mold portion (drag) to fill in, or correct irregularities in green sand molds. In casting metal shapes in a sand/binder mold, the cope and/or drag mold portions include sand compositions that are not perfectly planar surrounding the mold cavity, leaving one or more areas where the cope and drag are not in contact or otherwise provide a seal surrounding the mold cavity. The fiber-reinforced clay-containing article described herein is disposed between the cope and drag to seal the mold in one or more locations surrounding the mold cavity. The composition described herein is capable of shaping by hand, like modeling clay; and the article is preferably in the form of a continuous rope that is flexible, remains hydrated, and can be cut or broken to a desired length and disposed in area(s) where the cope and drag do not make good mating contact.