Ecological aspects of the use of lost foam patterns

The paper discusses some aspects of ecology in the use of lost foam patterns for piece production of large castings poured from ferrous alloys under the conditions of Metalodlew SA. Foundry. The technological processes used in the manufacture of castings are related with numerous hazards. Numerous problems requiring prompt solution occur also during the process of foundry mould pouring, to mention only various contaminants, air pollution, noise and other factors harmful to the human health and natural environment. Various technological processes cause strenuous work conditions in foundry shops. Many of the publications that have appeared so far dealing with the problems of environmental protection and hard work conditions in foundries [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] discuss in both general and detailed way problems related with various pollutants, noise and other factors harmful to the human health and natural environment, responsible for hazards faced by foundry workers. Studies carried out by various R&D centres are mainly focussed on the problem of how to reduce the harmful effect of technological processes on the environment through modification of the already existing or development of new ecological and energy-saving materials and technologies. This paper shows the opportunities and threats resulting from the application of the Lost Foam Process in a foundry, which up to now has been using a more traditional technology.