The effect of humidity and temperature on the hardening characteristics of sodium silicate bonded self-setting sand mixes

The hardening characteristics of sodium solicate sands vary considerably and so does the slags, which are by-products of commercial production plants. The effect of variation in temperature and humidity on the hardening characteristics has so far been overlooked. Systematic studies on the effects of charges in temperature and humidity has established that the setting times as well as the maximum strength of self-setting sand mixes are affected by both temperature and humidity. (Shri N. Rao, Scientist, Shri S.K. Sinha, Senior Scientific Assistant, Shri T.A. Beck, Scientist, National Metallurgical Laboratory)