Mixing up K-Bond Sand (Similar to Petrobond)

Discussion in 'Sand Casting' started by Melterskelter, Jun 9, 2021.

  1. Tops

    Tops Silver Banner Member

    Yes, difference in clay types. Bentonite absorbs water (for green sand[sand+clay+water]) and Bentone is modified to not absorb water (for oil-bonded sand[sand+clay+oil+polar activator]).

    There are 2 main recipes in the thread, almost the same, different amount of clay and activator/catalyst. Can be used as percent ratios of sand if done by weight.
    I am only 55# (our sand comes 50#/22.72kg) or 25 kg's deep into this so not an expert. We were -11 C (10F) last night, I brought my sand into the house so I could cast sometime over the long weekend.

    Sponsored by Ray-Vin.Com...
    100 lbs. sand - 100 mesh or finer - US Silica F110
    6 lbs. Organo-bentone - Bentone 34 or VG-69
    3 lbs. Polybut(e)ne (2 US Quarts) Indopol L-100 BP Petroleum or Chevron OLOA
    0.2 lbs. (3.2oz or 91grams) Isopropyl alcohol - any pharmacy
    - or -
    0.2 lbs. (3.2oz or 91grams) Methanol (dry gas) - Auto Parts Store
    - or -
    0.2 lbs. (3.2oz or 91grams) Propylene Carbonate - Lab-Pro, Inc.

    Tom Cobett & Associates (Kent State)
    parts by weight Notes
    100 sand 100-150 AFS GFN
    6-7 K-BOND binder or Bentone 34
    3 K-BOND Oil or Amorphous Polybutene or Indopol L-14 or H-7 or
    Chevron Oronite OLOA 61005 or any SMOKELESS 2 stroke oil from
    Walmart, etc.
    0.25 K-BOND catalyst Propylene Carbonate or 95% Methanol+ 5% water
     
  2. BattyZ

    BattyZ Silver Banner Member

    Thanks for summing this up in 1 spot, Tops!

    On the hunt again for some off-the-shelf BENTONE. Found this link and ordered a sample but I am conflicted:

    https://www.naturalpigments.com/organoclay-500g.html

    Has the anti-K-Bond word "Bentonite" in a few spots but also calls it Organoclay BENTONE SD-1. Further down it goes on to say the powder in question is an organic derivative of Bentonite, which I believe is what Bentone is? Maybe Tom Cobett could enlighten us? Maybe it's not necessary.

    I will be doing the water test laid out by Melterskelter here:

    https://forums.thehomefoundry.org/i...-on-physical-charecteristics.2553/#post-50067

    Lastly, it was $18 +$14 shipping but if one bought 7 QTY it would be $130ish but free shipping from this particular site.
     
  3. Tops

    Tops Silver Banner Member

  4. BattyZ

    BattyZ Silver Banner Member

    Thanks for that document. A pretty wordy 5 pages to say that SD-1 may be slightly better the 34 in terms of Bentone.

    upload_2024-3-2_16-59-24.png

    That little bit where it says 'without polar activators' is interesting. Also, the snippet seconds what Tom said about propylene glycol as a polar activator.
     
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  5. Tops

    Tops Silver Banner Member

    Propylene carbonate is the preferred polar agent (glycol shows up in the same searches) and I think it can be used for sand cores too with sodium silicate.
     
  6. BattyZ

    BattyZ Silver Banner Member

    Ahhhhh! I meant propylene carbonate.
     
    Tops likes this.
  7. Tobho Mott

    Tobho Mott Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    I ran across that Natural Pigments "bentone" before... (see here: https://forums.thehomefoundry.org/i...-petrobond-sand-recipe.1307/page-4#post-37394)

    Asked them why the listing says bentone but the bag in the pic says bentonite. They took ages to reply and I posted about that too, but can't find it. Something along the lines of, "bentone is a brand name of bentonite". So I abandoned the idea. But now I'm seeing more extensive and promising info on the site such as the "organic derivative of Bentonite" you mentioned. Maybe I was wrong to give up on it! I made 40# of K-bond with a sample of VG-Plus from Calgary before they stopped replying to my emails, so me and the remaining 460# of clean AFS 130 GFN olivine in a barrel in my shed are hoping this works out. Every other lead I've chased down has turned out to be a dead end. Thanks for bringing this one back into the light!

    Jeff
     
  8. HT1

    HT1 Gold Banner Member

    your going to have to go through a foundry supply to get petrobond clay

    https://piedmontfoundrysupply.com/products-test-page/

    or maybe these guys
    https://www.bentonite.com/en/organoclays

    Maybe Jessie can help
    https://www.rheologicaladditive.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-organoclay/

    offering a sample
    https://www.barentz-na.com/us/case/products/Bentone 34


    another very good lead
    https://www.canfieldjoseph.com/

    found a direct reference to these guys selling it
    https://www.refcotec.com/

    MIFCO used to sell sand
    call and see if they can get of have a source for petrobond clay, BENTONE 34, or VG-69

    HERE not 100% but online sale
    https://theofmp.com/ofmp/en/USD/p/Vg-plus-Viscosifier?vendor=miswaco&brand=federal


    Have fun

    V/r HT1
     
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  9. Tops

    Tops Silver Banner Member

  10. Tobho Mott

    Tobho Mott Administrator Staff Member Banner Member

    Tops likes this.
  11. Tops

    Tops Silver Banner Member

    Where is there a P-Chem major specializing in organoclay when we need them?
     
  12. HT1

    HT1 Gold Banner Member

    did the K bond start to smoke when the flames went out???

    V/r HT1
    P.S. Inquiring minds want to know.
     
  13. HT1

    HT1 Gold Banner Member

  14. Tops

    Tops Silver Banner Member

    I got the same stuff, one size smaller bottle, last year. I hear it helps to cure water glass core sand too.
     
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