Kao Wins 'Grand Prize' and 'Environmental Technology Award' at the 58th JCIA Technology Awards; Environmental Award for 'Development of Kao ICS, an Inorganic Coated Sand for Casting'
Kao has won the 'Environmental Technology Award' from the Japan Chemical Industry Association. The award recognizes 'Kao ICS,' a new technology that significantly reduces harmful gases and CO2 emissions during casting. This is a crucial technology contributing to reducing the environmental impact and improving the quality of the manufacturing industry.
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- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 22:10
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Kao Corporation has received the 'Environmental Technology Award' at the 58th (2025) JCIA Technology Awards, hosted by the Japan Chemical Industry Association, for its 'Development of Kao ICS, an Inorganic Coated Sand for Casting.' This award recognizes achievements that have contributed to the development of the chemical industry and the economy through the development and industrialization of outstanding chemical technologies. Among them, the 'Environmental Technology Award' is given to organizations that have contributed to the advancement of science and technology with original or improved technologies that have a significant effect on reducing environmental impact.
In addition, Kao also received the 'Grand Prize' for the 'Development of ScentVista 400®, a Comprehensive Evaluation System for Olfactory Receptors,' making it two awards for the company this year. Technologies from different fields were each highly evaluated.
Background of the Award-Winning Technology
Casting is a method of producing metal products (castings) of a desired shape by pouring high-temperature molten metal into a mold made of sand and letting it cool and solidify. Because it can form complex shapes, it is used in the manufacturing of parts for a wide range of fields, such as automobiles and machine tools. For creating the molds essential for casting, organic coated sand, where the surface of the sand is pre-coated with a heat-resistant organic material called phenol resin as an adhesive, is widely used (Figure 1).
However, while organic coated sand is easy to handle in its free-flowing dry state, it decomposes due to the heat of the molten metal, generating odors and harmful gases. As a result, this not only causes problems in the work environment but also creates defects (gas defects) inside or on the surface of the castings due to the generated gas, which is an obstacle to high-quality casting production. As a response to these issues, the use of sand coated with water glass, an inorganic material that generates less gas, has been gaining attention in recent years. However, because water glass is a liquid, the sand becomes sticky, making it difficult to fill complex molds. Additionally, its hygroscopic nature causes the created molds to break under high humidity, which has been a factor hindering its widespread adoption.
Therefore, Kao took on the challenge of developing a new inorganic coated sand that uses inorganic materials while maintaining a free-flowing state like organic coated sand.
- Overview of the Award-Winning Technology
Kao considered various materials and combinations as an alternative adhesive to water glass and focused on a specific silicate. By developing a proprietary technology to fix this silicate onto the sand's surface, they found that the sand could maintain its original free-flowing, dry state. Furthermore, by adding a special inorganic additive, they established a technology to suppress hygroscopicity and prevent molds from breaking even under high humidity. Based on these findings, Kao developed the new inorganic coated sand technology, 'Kao ICS' (Figure 2).
<< Features of the Award-Winning Technology >>
1. Suppresses odors and gas generation during casting, contributing to improved work environments and casting quality.
2. Excellent fluidity in a dry state, allowing the use of existing equipment for organic coated sand.
3. Reduces total CO2 emissions by approximately 50% compared to organic coated sand in the coated sand manufacturing and casting processes.
Kao has been engaged in the technological development of materials for casting for over 50 years. Going forward, Kao aims to contribute to the further development of the casting industry through the practical application of inorganic coated sand using 'Kao ICS'.
In addition, Kao also received the 'Grand Prize' for the 'Development of ScentVista 400®, a Comprehensive Evaluation System for Olfactory Receptors,' making it two awards for the company this year. Technologies from different fields were each highly evaluated.
Background of the Award-Winning Technology
Casting is a method of producing metal products (castings) of a desired shape by pouring high-temperature molten metal into a mold made of sand and letting it cool and solidify. Because it can form complex shapes, it is used in the manufacturing of parts for a wide range of fields, such as automobiles and machine tools. For creating the molds essential for casting, organic coated sand, where the surface of the sand is pre-coated with a heat-resistant organic material called phenol resin as an adhesive, is widely used (Figure 1).
However, while organic coated sand is easy to handle in its free-flowing dry state, it decomposes due to the heat of the molten metal, generating odors and harmful gases. As a result, this not only causes problems in the work environment but also creates defects (gas defects) inside or on the surface of the castings due to the generated gas, which is an obstacle to high-quality casting production. As a response to these issues, the use of sand coated with water glass, an inorganic material that generates less gas, has been gaining attention in recent years. However, because water glass is a liquid, the sand becomes sticky, making it difficult to fill complex molds. Additionally, its hygroscopic nature causes the created molds to break under high humidity, which has been a factor hindering its widespread adoption.
Therefore, Kao took on the challenge of developing a new inorganic coated sand that uses inorganic materials while maintaining a free-flowing state like organic coated sand.
- Overview of the Award-Winning Technology
Kao considered various materials and combinations as an alternative adhesive to water glass and focused on a specific silicate. By developing a proprietary technology to fix this silicate onto the sand's surface, they found that the sand could maintain its original free-flowing, dry state. Furthermore, by adding a special inorganic additive, they established a technology to suppress hygroscopicity and prevent molds from breaking even under high humidity. Based on these findings, Kao developed the new inorganic coated sand technology, 'Kao ICS' (Figure 2).
<< Features of the Award-Winning Technology >>
1. Suppresses odors and gas generation during casting, contributing to improved work environments and casting quality.
2. Excellent fluidity in a dry state, allowing the use of existing equipment for organic coated sand.
3. Reduces total CO2 emissions by approximately 50% compared to organic coated sand in the coated sand manufacturing and casting processes.
Kao has been engaged in the technological development of materials for casting for over 50 years. Going forward, Kao aims to contribute to the further development of the casting industry through the practical application of inorganic coated sand using 'Kao ICS'.