What is silica sand?
Silica sand is a type of sand that contains a high proportion of silica, which is a naturally occurring mineral that is essential for many industrial and commercial applications. Silica sand is made of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and may also contain small amounts of iron, aluminum, and other trace elements.
It is chemically inert and relatively hard, making it ideal for use as filtration media and abrasive blasting sands. Silica sand is used in a variety of industries, including golf courses, sports fields, industrial abrasives, glassmaking, paints and coatings, ceramics, and construction materials.
The application values of silica sand
Silica sand used to make glass
Glass is made from obtaining high-quality, pure silica sand. Also called quartz sand, silica sand is the primary ingredient in making glass. Glass without iron impurities is sought for clear glass pieces, as the iron will cause the glass to appear greenish when present. Wear a face mask if handling extremely fine-grain silica sand, as it can irritate the throat and lungs.
Sodium carbonate and calcium oxide are added to the silica sand. Sodium carbonate (commonly called washing soda) lowers the temperature necessary to make glass commercially. However, it permits water to pass through the glass, so calcium oxide, or lime, is added to negate this property. Oxides of magnesium and/or aluminum may also be added to make the glass more durable. Generally, these additives take up no more than 26 to 30 percent of the glass mixture.
Silica sand is used to make paints and coatings
Silica sand is an important to produce paints and coatings, when producers choose the grain size of silica sand that they want to use. They can use any color of paint, and any finish (gloss, semi-gloss, eggshell, or flat) will work well with added silica sand.
Producers will add silica sand to the paint. In general, add about one-part sand to every four-parts of paint. Too much sand creates problems with paint adhesion. You can also have the paint store add the silica additive and shake it using their industrial paint shaker.
Use silica sand to produce ceramics
Silica sand is a major component in the production of ceramics and refractory materials. It provides the necessary silica content and high-temperature resistance required for ceramic glazes, molds, and refractory linings in furnaces and kilns. The production process of silica sand includes 4 stages of crushing, grinding, purifying, and drying.
When heating silica sand up to 2,000 °C to produce fused silica, an important material with excellent thermal shock resistance, near zero thermal expansion and good mechanical properties at high temperatures; making it ideally suited to applications such as conveyer rollers, crucibles and firing supports in the high temperature industries such as glass and metals production.
