Sand casting is a metal casting process that uses sand as the modeling material. Factories specializing in sand casting are generally called foundries. In China or around the world, castings produced using sand molds account for more than 80% of castings produced using various casting molds.
The sand used in sand casting is relatively cheap and has enough refractory properties that it is even used in steel castings. In addition to the sand, a properly proportioned binder (usually clay) is usually mixed in or present in the sand. Water is usually added to the sand mix, but sometimes other substances are added to change the strength and plasticity of the clay to produce the right degree of polymerization for the shape. The sand is usually contained in a frame system or using a mold box called a sandbox. The casting cavity is created by compressing the sand around the model, either using a pattern plate, or by carving directly into the sand mold.