Metalcasting Associations
American Foundry Society
http://www.afsinc.org
The American Foundry (formerly Foundrymen’s) Society is the largest national metalcasting association and technical society. Originally formed in 1896, the AFS mission is “to provide and promote knowledge and services that strengthen the metalcasting industry for the ultimate knowledge of its customers and society.” AFS has an excellent technical library whose archives contain historical references to all aspects of metalcasting, including prior industry research and publications regarding beneficial use/recycling of industry byproducts. The society’s Publications Catalogue makes available a variety of training materials and videotapes that explain many aspects of metalcasting, including the types of processes used in the industry.
Among its other technical outreach programs are annual technical and environmental conferences, and regional technical meetings. AFS has an extensive committee structure and sponsors many different industry research projects, both independently and in conjunction with various Federal and state agencies. Beneficial Use & Recycling of industry byproducts is an AFS environmental priority.
For More Information:
About AFS Beneficial Use & Recycling Programs:
Alicia Oman
AFS Washington Office
aoman@afsinc.org
AFS Library: http://www.afslibrary.com/
Casting Source Directory: http://www.toolingnet.org/AFS/
AFS Recycling Brochure: http://www.afsinc.org/Govn/downloads/RecyclingBrochure.pdf
The Non-Ferrous Founders Society
http://www.nffs.org/Main.htm
Established in 1943, the Non-Ferrous Founders' Society (NFFS) is the principal North American trade association representing aluminum, brass and bronze foundries and ingot manufacturers. Non-ferrous foundries cast everything from aluminum wheels to golf clubs to piano pedals to plumbing fixtures.
The Society's member companies employ virtually every casting process: sand, permanent mold, investment, continuous cast, centrifugal, and die-casting. The principal metals cast are aluminum, brass and bronze, however some member foundries may also pour magnesium, zinc, and other non-ferrous materials.
Aluminum foundry sands, whether green sand or resin sands, are generally excellent fine aggregates for recycling and beneficial reuse. In foundries which cast more than one type of non-ferrous metal, it may be important to segregate the sand streams for different recycling or disposal options.
Questions are sometimes raised about recycling options for byproducts from brass and bronze foundries. Some brass and bronze alloys contain lead, zinc or copper, which are necessary to achieve specified metallurgical and machining properties in the final products. The non-ferrous foundry industry has been working for many years to perfect no or low-lead alloys in response to environmental and worker safety concerns. Today, there are many examples of brass and bronze foundries whose sands pass the RCRA-required TCLP leaching protocol, which determines whether they need to be handled as hazardous or non-hazardous solid wastes. As with other foundry byproducts, it is important to be sure that brass and bronze foundry sands and other residuals are appropriately tested before reuse and/or disposal options are determined.
In 1992, EPA published Guide to Pollution Prevention: Metal Casting and Heat Treating Industry (EPA/625-R-92/009, September 1992). NFFS has provided a copy of Section 3, which includes a discussion of options for brass foundries; this document can be accessed in FIRST's Technical Library. Those options include reclaiming metal and sand and the use of brass sand as a feedstock for primary smelters.
NFFS is conducting a literature review for Best Management Practices for the handling and reuse of byproducts from non-ferrous foundries. The association expects to produce a White Paper on these options for further reference.
For More Information:
About NFFS Beneficial Use & Recycling Programs:
James Mallory
Executive Director
nffstaff@nffs.org
Defense Casting Suppliers http://www.defensecastingsuppliers.com/
Steel Founders Society of America
http://www.sfsa.org/
In 1902, the Steel Founders Society of America (SFSA) was established to provide technical information, research and training for the owners and operators of steel foundries.
Steel Founders' Society of America is a not-for-profit Association serving the steel casting industry in North America, and representing the industry nationally and internationally in regulatory and specification development. SFSA manages a diverse and relevant technology development program developing new markets and applications."
Steel foundries produce steel castings from recycled steel, ranging in weight from a few ounces to over 200 tons. These castings are used in machinery, transportation, defense and other areas of the American economy. Most steel casting is done by small- and medium-size manufacturing companies.
Steel castings are divided into two classes: carbon steel and alloy steels. Many steel foundries use air set or other resin sands, although some cast in green sands. As a rule of thumb, sand from carbon steel casting systems is suitable for recycling and reuse. Alloy steel sands should be tested to be sure that they do not have levels of contaminants which exceed regulatory limits.
For More Information:
About SFSA Beneficial Use & Recycling Programs:
Raymond Monroe
Executive Vice President
monroe@sfsa.org
Directory of Steel Foundries: http://www.sfsa.or/dir/index.php3
Ductile Iron Society
http://www.ductile.org/
For more than 40 years, the Ductile Iron Society has been promoting the interests of the ductile iron industry through advertising, research, education, technological advancements and quality control. Made up of large corporations and small companies in North America and the world, the society is the only industry group devoted solely to the concerns of the producers and users of ductile iron castings.
For More Information:
About DIS and its programs:
Jack Hall
Executive Director
<jhall@ductile.org>