Process for preparing mold

A mold with an increased compression strength and a good collapsibility is prepared with a good efficiency by mixing refractory particles with a binder material comprising a caustic alkali-neutralized product of a copolymer containing a carboxyl group and calcium hydroxide, thereby preparing molding materials, filling the molding materials around a pattern, and blowing CO2 gas into the mold sand, thereby hardening the molding materials. Polyvinyl alcohol, calcium oxide, at least one hydroxide of zinc, aluminum, barium, magnesium, and iron, SBR latex, etc. can be added to the binder material, when desired.