Foundry chemistry is a complex science with complicated products that take some explaining. For many non-experts, the challenge of learning about inorganic binder technology can be a real headache. So, in order to make inorganic binders easier to understand, our experts have come up with something special: a chess game with figures made of inorganically bound sand.
The challenge and idea behind the new chess set
Sculptors love the challenge of designing new chess pieces. Whether wood, steel, clay, ivory, glass or plastic – if there is a material you can think of, it has probably been used to make chess pieces. But what about sand?
In the highly original inorganic chess game from Hüttenes-Albertus, the pieces can not only be moved without disintegrating, they also withstand loads (such as moisture) and impressively demonstrate the practical applications of foundry chemistry.
From the initial idea to the finished game set
The individual chess figures were created just like foundry cores, combining sand and HA’s Cordis inorganic binder system. In order to end up with black and white figures, our experts used special sands with the right natural colours: bauxite sand and badger sand.
The journey from the initial idea to the finished chess set was paved with obstacles. In addition to their day-to-day business, employees from various HA departments worked together with our business partners to overcome every challenge: from the design of initial drafts to the construction of the models, from the optimisation of the binder system to the development of the core tools and the core shooting process.
In close collaboration with an expert model maker, the HA team started by designing the optimum mould for each specific figure.
We then teamed up with the toolmaker Rampf Tooling Solutions to develop a core box made of a new type of synthetic material.
Once all of the tools, moulds and binders had been optimised, it was time to shoot some cores. In a total of four passes (2 for white cores and 2 for black cores), the sand mixed with the Cordis binder and the additive anorgite was shot into the heated core boxes under pressure and then hardened by heat.
Impressive results
The inorganic binder system ensured that the sandy figures could be perfectly cast.
- They are stable (including when stored)
- They pose no health risks
- They look and feel great.
Would you like to learn more about our inorganic solutions?
Our inorganics team will be happy to help you at any time.