What is Silica Sand? 12 Uses of Silica Sand
Silica sand, also referred as quartz sand or industrial sand, is among the most plentiful and adaptable natural resources on Earth. To most people, sand is something found on the beach or the local playground, but silica sand is an incredibly unique mineral and building block of modern industry. Silica sand is the silent backbone of the world manufacturing sector, from the glass in your smartphone to the filtration systems that give us clean drinking water.
By this guide, you can understand the characteristics of silica sand as well as the 12 key usages of silica sand in different industries nowadays.
What is Silica Sand?
In order to comprehend silica sand, we need to determine what is it in chemical terms. Unlike “regular” brown sand (construction sand), which consists of a combination of different minerals (feldspar, carbonate, iron, etc.), silica sand is predominantly (SiO_2) (Vernon, 2018). In order for a deposit to be considered industrial-grade silica sand, it generally needs >95% silica and <0.6% iron oxide.
Such high purity imparts it distinct physical and chemical properties. Its Mohs hardness = ~ 7 and it is chemically inert and has a high melting point. Because of these properties, it is essential for many high temperature, chemical, and abrasive applications.
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The 12 Most Important Uses of Silica Sand
1. Glass
The main end user of silica sand is glass production. Silica sand is the basic raw material, be it flat glass for windows, container glass for bottle, or special glass for fiber optics. Its richness in SiO_2 is also important for transparency and mechanical strength. In glass, the sand needs to be very pure; a trace quantity of iron will colour the glass green, and so high-quality silica sand is used.
2. Golf Courses
That immaculate white sand you see when you watch golfers playing on television? It also serves a purpose beyond looks in “top-dressing” greens and fairways. It is a sub-angular shape with a uniform grain size, which promotes natural aeration and inhibits soil compaction, and ensures the grass stays healthy and provides a level playing surface with consistent foot traffic.
3. Ceramic
That said, silica sand is used to make ceramics (tableware and sanitaryware such as sinks and toilets, and floor tiles). Insert mod for ceramic body skeleton to minimize shrinkage in drying and firing Additionally, when finely powdered into a “silica flour,” it is utilized in glazes to give ceramic an evenly smooth, waterproof, and glossy surface.
4.Rubber
Silica sand is widely used as reinforcing filler in rubber industries. It enhances durability, tensile and abrasion resistance when used with rubber compounds. This is especially true in the production of high performance tires, where silica lowers “rolling resistance” so that vehicles consume less fuel.
5. Paint
In architecture and industrial coatings silica sand increases the visibility and performance in the paint industry. The coating contains high-purity silica, which provides brilliant colors and excels in dirt, mildew, and weathering resistance. Coarse silica grains and other aggregates are incorporated into heavy-duty floor coatings and “non-slip” paints to create a texture for traction.
6. Foundry
Silica sand is an essential raw material in the foundry industry to manufacture molds and cores. As it has a melting point close to 1,600°C to 1,700°C so it does not deform during the extreme heat of molten metal. SAND: Sand frequently combined with a binding agent to form the negative shape of engine blocks, transmission parts and other metallic parts.
7. Steel Production
In iron and steel, silica sand serves as a flux. This reduces the viscosity & melting point of slag which assists in refining the molten metal by removing impurities. Furthermore, silica is also a raw material for ferrosilicon, which is a critical alloy used to deoxidize steel and make it a strong metal.
8. Filtration Media
Silica sand has one of the most important roles in water treatment. Silica sand of uniform grain size is the best filter media for solid contaminants removal for drinking water and wastewater. The type of sand through its shape and grain size distribution traps silt and organic matter thus providing clean water for municipal and industrial use.
9. Construction
High Purity Silica Sand is different from general purpose sand which is used for bulk concrete, high-purity silica sand is used for a specific pattern or construction material. It has become a key component used in nearly all specialty cements, mortars and exterior finishing systems (EIFS). With its chemical resistance, structures remain sound and impervious against environmental pollutants for many decades.
10. Tile Adhesive
Silica sand is in your adhesive if you are laying down tiles. It offers the required “bulk” and mechanical strength for tile mortars and grouts. The compactness of the sand helps the glue to spread evenly and adhere strongly to both the tile and substrate preventing cracking or shifting after some time.
11. Sodium Silicate
The main precursor of sodium silicate (water glass) is silica sand. This chemical is produced by taking silica sand and reacting it with sodium carbonate and is used for a variety of applications including detergents, paper cardboard adhesives, soil injections as a stabilizer in construction projects, etc.
12. Oil & Petroleum (Hydraulic Fracturing)
In the upstream energy industry, silica sand is known as frac sand. In hydraulic fracturing (or fracking), pure silica sand is injected deep underground with water and chemicals. The sand is what is called a “proppant” to hold the fractures opened in the shale rocks, allowing oil and natural gas to flow out into the wellbore.
FAQs
How is silica sand different from regular sand?
Their difference is mainly the quality and chemical composition. Common sand is a mix of minerals and rocks, often rich in iron, carbonate, and feldspar. Silica sand at least ninety-five% $SiO_2$ (silicon dioxide). Because silica sand is so much purer, it has higher heat and chemical reaction resistance over standard sand.
Is it safe to work with silica sand?
Solid silica sand is not harmful to manage. The dust produced through cutting, grinding, or sandblasting , referred to as “crystalline silica” can be dangerous if inhaled over time. Industrial workers should wear the appropriate PPE, including respirators and dust suppression systems, to divert silicosis and other work-related respiratory diseases.
What makes silica sand special for water filter – Is silica sand the only option?
sand that has an extremely specific grain shape and size is silica sand. It is also chemically inert and will not leach out minerals or impurities into the water. It is long-lasting, and will not fall apart easily, and offers reusable, and highly efficient filtration bed that can be cleaned through using a method called backwash.
Can silica sand be recycled?
Yes, silica sand can be recycled and reclaimed in a numerous industrial process. Take used sand in molds based used in the foundry industry; this “spent” sand can be thermally or mechanically processed to remove binders and impurities, and it can be reused indefinitely. Likewise, seventeen flows of glass (also from silica sand) lead to 100 percent recycling, which can facilitate a savings of virgin sand mining.
