<p>In recent years, inorganic alkali silicate binders for hot box processes have gained significant attention within the foundry industry due to their environmental benefits and their potential in producing critical aluminum cast parts for automotive engines, e-engines, suspensions, and subframes. As waterglass-based systems, these binders produced no harmful emissions, aligning with stringent environmental standards. As regulations tighten, it is necessary to extend the experience gained from core- and mold-making with hot box processes to other segments of inorganic binder systems, specifically ester-cured nobake and CO₂-cured cold box. These technologies do not currently achieve the same performance levels as hot box-cured binders. This study explores the use of custom-made powder additives to enhance the properties of these binder systems, facilitating the use of water-based coatings and improving the collapsibility and compaction of cores, resulting in superior casting surfaces in aluminum, brass, iron, and steel castings. Through a series of laboratory tests and casting trials, the study investigates the effects of powder additives on the performance of nobake and cold box alkali silicate binders, with the goal of enhancing the overall performance of these inorganic binder systems. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights for broadening the application of inorganic binders to nobake and cold box systems, offering an environmentally friendly solution for non-automotive foundries that need to reduce their emissions or improve their environmental, health, and safety footprint.</p>