Metal foundries use large amounts of sand as part of the metal casting process. Foundries successfully recycle and reuse the sand many times in a foundry. When the sand can no longer be reused in the foundry, it is removed from the foundry and is termed “foundry sand.” Foundry sand production is nearly 6 to 10 million tons annually. Like many waste products, foundry sand has beneficial applications to other industries. The purpose of this course is to provide technical information about the potential civil engineering applications of foundry sand. This will provide a means of advancing the uses of foundry sand that are technically sound, commercially competitive and environmentally safe.

Topics: • Foundry sand availability • Types of foundry sand • Physical, engineering, and environmental characteristics • Economics and quality • Uses in structural fills and embankments • Uses in road bases, and hot mix asphalt • Uses in flowable fills • Uses in grouts and mortars • Uses in agricultural/soil amendments • Uses in vitrification of hazardous materials • Uses in rock wool, Portland cement and fiberglass manufacturing • Uses in smelting • Uses in landfill cover or hydraulic barriers.

Intended Audience: for Civil, Geotechnical, Environmental, Transportation, Roadway, Construction and other engineers whose job description may require an intermediate knowledge of the beneficial uses of recycled waste byproducts. 

Publication Source: USDOT (Federal Highway Administration)