Where is quartz sand used? Characteristics and application of quartz sand

Quartz sand is a granular material of mineral origin. It is formed as a result of the destruction of quartz-containing rocks. The distribution in the earth's crust is very wide.

The size of sand fractions varies within 0.1-6 mm. Quartz rocks often contain various impurities in the form of clay carbonates, iron oxides, feldspars and other rocks. They give quartz (naturally transparent or white) various shades. The color scheme changes from yellow to red-brown and even black.

Pure quartz sands have a minimum of inert impurities: up to 99% of the composition is silica. Chemical formula of SiO2. The color of quartz sand without impurities is milky.

Quartz sand is divided into two varieties: a material of natural and artificial origin.

The former is found in the form of enriched quartz sand of various fractions and is mined in a developed deposit by mechanical means. The second also has a natural origin: the raw material is crushed vein quartz - a custom rock (pure quartz). For extraction, a drilling and blasting method is used, and then the resulting material is crushed for further use.

Quartz sand is divided into several categories by origin. River, mountain and cellar sand is mined, respectively, on the banks of rivers, in places where rocks come out and under the soil at a certain depth. The river variety contains a minimum amount of contaminants.

Quartz sand is also divided according to the shape of the grains into rounded and crushed. Rounded has the appearance of rounded grains, crushed looks like uneven chipped grains.

Mining and production of quartz sand

The extraction of quartz fractional sand is carried out by an open pit method or by a dredger from natural deposits in the floodplains of rivers and lakes.

A small amount of impurities and a large amount of quartz - this is what distinguishes developments in which quartz sand is mined from quarries in which ordinary construction sand is mined. The extracted raw material goes through a number of technological processes: washing from mud deposits and cleaning from impurities by a chemical method.

This process is called enrichment, it serves to obtain sand of the required quality. As a result, the content of quartz rock increases, and the purest material is obtained, which, after drying in special installations, passes through a series of sieves and is distributed into fractions. The resulting product is called fractionated quartz sand.

The process of extraction by a dredger is as follows: a mixture of sand and water from the bottom of the reservoir is pumped and transferred through a special pipeline to the storage site. Water gradually separates from the extracted soil and goes back into the reservoir through the drains. The resulting material is sent to the enterprise for its further enrichment and separation into fractions.

Artificial quartz sand is obtained from veined quartz rock, which is first sent to the crushing complex. There, the raw material is crushed into grains. This is followed by procedures similar to when working with quarry sand: the material is washed, dried and separated by a technical sieve into fractions.

Characteristics and properties of quartz sand

Features of quartz sand

The peculiarity of quartz sand, which distinguishes it from other types of sand, is that this material is monomineral, that is, it consists of only one mineral - quartz. This homogeneity makes it a valuable industrial raw material. A small proportion of impurities makes it possible to obtain glass with a high degree of transparency from raw materials.

Another feature is intergranular porosity. Compared to other materials, quartz sand provides the highest dirt holding capacity. In addition to this property, the degree of wear of sand grains is low, and quartz sand already shows itself excellently as a filter material.

Chemical properties of quartz sand

The crystalline structure of quartz gives it and the sand derived from it exceptional strength and resistance to alkali and acid materials. Very high hardness, refractoriness and chemical composition of quartz sand cause its increased fire resistance and fire safety. The material in its properties corresponds to a dielectric and is inert to a wide range of chemicals.

Physical properties of quartz sand

Sand is characterized by all the properties of quartz:

bulk density 1300-1500 g / cm3 abrasion - 0.1 crushability - 0.3 hardness (Mohs scale) - 7 (for comparison, the hardness of diamond - 10) use by radioactivity - 1 class

The density of quartz sand is determined by two different approaches.

There is bulk density, and there is true density. Bulk is calculated as the ratio of the mass of the material in a bulk state to its volume. This value includes the pores in the sand grains and the air spaces between them.

That is, this value may vary depending on the moisture content of the material. True density - a constant value, is the ratio of a substance in an absolutely dense state to its volume. The moisture content of the sand does not matter.

To change the density, the chemical composition or molecular structure must be changed. Bulk density is less than true. The density of the material is an important characteristic that must be taken into account when calculating the places for storage, its transportation and movement by handling equipment.

Abrasion, crushability and hardness of quartz sand are indirect indicators of its strength. To determine the values, grains are tested on a rotating abraded metal circle, mechanically compressing the mass of fractions and scratching the standard grain and, conversely, the grain standard.

Fractions of quartz sand:

dusty - less than 0.1 mm fine-grained: 0.1-0.8 mm medium-grained: 0.8 - 1.6 mm; coarse-grained: 1.6 - 6.0 mm

Pulverized and fine-grained quartz sand is used as part of various building materials, such as building mixtures, putties, grouts, abrasive materials, thin plasters and paints.

Quartz sand of medium grain size is used for filtering and cleaning liquids, for sandblasting, for building mixtures, facade and interior plasters, self-leveling floors, concrete mortars, in landscape design, for backfilling sports grounds.

The material of large fractions is used for the manufacture of paving slabs, concrete blocks, landscape decoration. It is also used for filtering.

Sand of all fractions is used in the glass, foundry and chemical industries.

Application of quartz sand

For water purification and filtration

The chemical and physical properties of quartz sand make it ideal for use as a water filter. Drinking or technical water, including in swimming pools, can be qualitatively and easily purified from mechanical impurities and reduce the content of iron, fluorides, chlorides, sulfates, salts of heavy metals and other harmful impurities. Excellent adhesive properties help to attract dirt to the surface of the grains of sand.

Quartz filter sand is used in the first stage of multi-stage household and industrial filters for preliminary mechanical cleaning. Multiple use is possible, as the material is easily washed when contaminated by water-air washing. The use of a quartz sand filter extends the life of subsequent filter stages.

Sandblasting

One of the most effective surface cleaning techniques is sandblasting. Quartz sand or other abrasive is sprayed onto the surface (glass, metal, stone, wood) to be cleaned using a compressed air or water jet.

The grains of sand fly at great speed and destroy the top layer of the surface, cleaning it from scale, corrosion and other coatings. It is necessary to ensure that together with the removed layer, for example, mold on old masonry, the stone itself is not damaged. Quartz sand for sandblasting must be selected taking into account the surface material, the degree of contamination and further processing.

Main areas of work:

cleaning metal from rust and other contaminants; degreasing surfaces; matting glass; cleaning concrete and masonry; roughening the surface for further processing.

Today there is a wide variety of abrasive materials, but dry quartz sand remains the most popular for sandblasting.

Quartz sand for self-leveling floors

Resin floors filled with quartz sand are durable, seamless, non-slip and hygienic and easy to clean. Quartz sand for self-leveling floors is a good way to reduce the cost of a traditional self-leveling floor.

This material is suitable for both new coatings and existing concrete floors. Most often, polymer floors are used in rooms with significant abrasive loads on the concrete surface. Self-leveling floors in this case are used as a finishing decorative coating.

It has a smooth and attractive surface, excellent resistance to stress. Such a floor is characterized by low abrasion, since the polymer in this case acts as a binder, and the main functional load associated with wear is borne by a quartz filler, the abrasion of which is extremely low. To preserve the decorative properties, the floor must be covered with mastic, protective varnish or wax.

Silica sand in the foundry industry

Molding quartz sand is used in the metallurgical industry for the manufacture of casting molds and cores. The quality of casting into one-off molds is directly related to the characteristics of the foundry sand.

The accuracy of the casting, its surface quality, the structure and properties of the casting alloys, the likelihood of developing defects and the need for complex finishing operations are very dependent on the characteristics of the sand. The complex of operations associated with the manufacture of a mold accounts for approximately 60% of the labor costs for obtaining castings. Molding quartz sands have a uniformity coefficient of 72 to 80% and are characterized by increased strength and fire resistance.

Glass production

The glass industry is one of the main consumers of quartz sand. Glass quartz sand intended for glass making must meet special requirements. In the material, the proportion of silicon oxide should be at least 95%, clay impurities should be no more than 1%, iron oxide - no more than 1%.

In high grades, the content of silicon oxide reaches 99.8%. Moisture in dried sand should be no more than 0.5%. The proportion of impurities in the sand directly affects the transparency of the glass made from it.

Quartz sand is the basis for the manufacture of all types of glass. Ordinary window, medical, fiberglass, laboratory, electronics and so on are made from the same material. Therefore, great attention is paid to the purification of raw materials in the production of quartz sand.

Depending on the chemical composition, sand is classified into grades that have a letter designation and purpose:

OOVS - products of special responsibility with high translucency; OVS - products with high translucency; VS - products with high translucency; C - translucent products; B - colorless products; PB - semi-white products; PS - products with reduced translucency; T - dark glass -green.

For sports surfaces

When organizing sports grounds with artificial grass coverage, quartz sand infill in combination with rubber granulate or quartz sand alone can be used. On football fields, a composite composition is used: crumb rubber softens friction in the event of a player sliding down. Tennis courts, multi-purpose playgrounds, school stadiums and training grounds use only quartz sand between the grass.

The excellent drainage properties of sand, provided that the grass is laid on the field correctly, is a guarantee that even during precipitation, puddles and mud will not form on the field. Quartz sand for sports surfaces is environmentally friendly, environmentally neutral and proven durability. Thus, the use of quartz sand as an artificial turf substrate gives a special comfort when playing and training on sports grounds.

For road surfaces

Silica paving sand can be used to mark areas of high danger and special attention.

Colored material can be used to highlight road crossings, public transport stops, entrances to industrial facilities or schools. Sharp turns on high-speed highways covered with quartz chips will reduce the danger of passing through such sections. Increased roughness will improve wheel traction and reduce the risk of skidding.

You can use quartz sand for garden paths and paths, as well as pedestrian areas. Excellent decorative and hygienic properties will allow you to keep walking alleys in the proper form without much effort.

Silica sand is almost indispensable in many applications and is one of the most important components for home and production.

Technologies with its application have been worked out to perfection. Attractive natural color, as well as the possibility of painting in any shade due to its excellent absorbent properties, expands the usual scope of applications. For the practicality of the material, you can put the highest score.

Quartz sand is a material that is of natural origin and is distinguished by such characteristics as chemical inertness, fracture resistance, strength, and sorption capacity. Most often it is used in the filtration of oil products and water, for the production of finishing and building materials, as well as in the creation of swimming pools. Now about everything in more detail.

Filtration ability

Silica sand for filters is used much more often than any other natural material. The fact is that its porosity is much greater compared to ordinary crushed sand.

This, in turn, provides it with the highest dirt holding capacity and sorption capacity, due to which even elements such as manganese and dissolved iron are removed from the water. For the same reason, quartz sand for a pool, artificial pond or lake, or rather, for their filtration system, is almost always used. The recommended fractions in these cases range from 0.4 to 6.0 millimeters.

Use in construction

Quartz sand is widely used in the construction industry, in particular, when creating polyurethane and epoxy floors. In this case, it should have a coarse-grained fraction.

The use of this material in the manufacture of plasters and building mixtures is due to its high chemical resistance, mechanical resistance to crushing and abrasion, as well as color stability. Fine fractions are well suited for sandblasting when processing glass, concrete and metal. The material is also used in the production of artificial stone.

Other areas

The use of quartz sand is not limited to all of the above. It is often used in the construction of greenhouse drainage systems, drilling of water wells, as feed for poultry, and as a filler for electrical insulators and waterproofing material. Recently, this type of sand can be found in aquarium and landscaping.

Production

Being a fairly common natural material, quartz sand does not directly enter filters, building materials or other applications directly from a quarry. This can be primarily explained by the nuance that in order to solve certain problems it is necessary to select a suitable fraction. In addition, sand usually contains a large number of various impurities, and therefore the material needs to be pre-treated, which is a rather complicated process.

Application features

The appearance of ready-to-use quartz sand is preceded by several operations at once, including the purification of raw materials from impurities, drying, fractionation, dosage and packaging.

At the same time, the importance of the fraction for this material should never be underestimated, because in certain industries (for example, in the production of glass) it plays a key role. Another important criterion that characterizes quartz sand is the absence of a chemical reaction in it. This applies, first of all, to construction, because after hardening of cement mortars or concrete, undesirable consequences may occur.

Quartz sand is made from quartz, a naturally occurring mineral found in abundance. Quartz is crushed into small fractions, resulting in fractions ranging in size from 0.01 to 3 mm in diameter.

Depending on the size of the fraction, not only the price changes, but also the purpose of the sand. Bulk material is obtained as a result of either natural crushing or artificial. As a result, the mineral turns into fractions of different sizes, which are further used for various purposes.

Composition and chemical-physical properties of quartz sand

The composition of quartz sand is regulated by GOST 21-38, TU. According to this GOST, the composition must contain at least 95% silicon oxide, the presence of clay is permissible no more than 1%, iron no more than 1%.

Humidity should not exceed 10%. The color of sand depends on the impurities in it, for example, the presence of titanium in the composition gives the sand a pink color, iron - brown, pure quartz has a milky hue or has no color. Burnt sand is usually yellow.

However, there are other requirements as well.

For example, if sand is intended for the silicate industry, it can be divided into three classes. Class A must have at least 70% silicon oxide, B - at least 60%, C - at least 50%. Sand for the glass industry is divided into levels of translucency.

Quartz sand is a very hard, refractory and refractory material, resistant to acids and alkalis, not afraid of temperature changes, and is also a dielectric.

These properties allow it to be used in various industries. Moreover, the use of quartz sand in a particular area depends on its specific characteristics. The quartz sand offered by us has undergone the heat treatment required to eliminate moisture and improve the quality of the sand.

Applications of quartz sand

Calcined quartz sand is used:

for sandblasting, in the manufacture of dry building mixtures, in landscape design, in urban improvement, when laying paving slabs, in gunning.

Calcined quartz sand is more expensive than other types, the cost of quartz sand is explained by the fact that the processing process itself is quite expensive. However, the quality of this type of sand is much higher - the firing process allows you to thoroughly clean the quartz sand from impurities, including clay and gravel, after which the sand is sifted fractionally and packaged in big bags - special synthetic containers that protect the material from dirt and humidity. Which also affects the quality of the sand.

In sandblasting, fine-grained quartz sand is usually used. In many countries, dry blasting is prohibited due to high risks, while in Russia, the process requires the use of a cleaning suit and careful safety precautions. In addition, hydro-cleaning is used - the supply of abrasives under running water, it is safer.

For dry building mixtures, various types of quartz sand are used, both fine and coarse. The latter are in demand in the manufacture of decorative plaster and other decorative mixtures.

In landscape design and urban landscaping, quartz sand is used to sprinkle paths, create gardens, even in sandboxes.

When laying paving slabs, sand is used as a substrate, and in shotcrete - as sand in a cement-sand mortar.

Conclusion

Quartz sand is required in so many areas, from construction and renovation to landscaping, sandblasting and landscaping. The properties and characteristics of quartz sand make it a unique material, strong, reliable and durable.

Ordinary white quartz sand is also actively used for landscape design, designers are very fond of using it as a coating for paths. You have probably seen colored coarse-grained sand in souvenir shops and aquariums, fine- and medium-grained sand is also used for cleaners and filters, including for pools. Quartz flour is used in the glass industry, in the foundry industry and in many other industries.

Sand is the most important material, without which it is almost impossible to imagine any major construction or any minor repairs. To date, there are three main types of such material: river, quartz and ravine. Accordingly, each has a name according to its origin.

The main applications of quartz sand are: finishing materials, glass production, road marking paint, filtration and water treatment.

But quartz sand is becoming more and more popular every day. What is it?

And what is its main purpose? It is very important to know all this if you want to use such material in construction. Therefore, we will consider these points in more detail.

Characteristics and main properties of quartz sand

Table of application of quartz sand depending on the fraction.

Quartz sand is loose quartz - the most durable material in nature. Such sand can be obtained both naturally, when natural stone crushing occurs, and artificially, when quartz is deliberately crushed. But most often quartz is crushed independently.

Quartz sand is most often a very loose homogeneous material, which, depending on the specific subspecies of quartz and the nature of its crushing, differs in fractions. The minimum grain size will be about 0.05 mm, the maximum - 3 mm. Very often quartz material contains additional impurities in small quantities, but may contain up to 90% silica.

Whatever way it is mined, it undergoes additional thorough cleaning, sifting, and also sorting into fractions. This makes it possible to divide the material into grades, as well as to weed out low-quality sand and debris from it.

It has several more properties that distinguish it favorably from all other types of sand. This is a high adsorption capacity, an unusual resistance to mechanical and thermal stress, as well as a high degree of adhesion to various materials and mixtures.

Quartz sand is a popular building material and raw materials for the glass industry. Compared to other types of inert raw materials, quartz is distinguished by its purity, strength and filtering ability. It has a unique composition and high characteristics, due to which it is widely used in various economic areas. Consider what it consists of, what properties it has and where it is used.

Quartz sand - composition and features

Quartz sand is inert material of natural origin. It is formed as a result of the natural destruction of hard rocks and is widely distributed in nature.

The size of the grains of sand is from 0.1 to 3.0 mm. Quartz often contains impurities of other minerals. These can be clayey carbonates, feldspars, iron oxide. Depending on the type and amount of impurities, it can acquire various shades - from light yellow to brown, while pure material is transparent or white.

The formula of natural quartz is SiO2. The pure substance is 99.0% silica and contains virtually no other components.

Origin There are two types of quartz:

According to the shape of the grain rounded view– with round and smooth granules, and crushed- with particles of irregular geometric shape and rough surface.

The main feature of this is its monominerality, i.e. it is made up of one substance. The homogeneity of the composition makes it a valuable material for construction and a sought-after raw material for the metallurgical and glass industries.

It also differs high porosity and dirt holding capacity, therefore it is widely used as a filler for hydrofilters. Due to the crystal structure, it has high strength, resistance to chemical alkalis and acids. It also has dielectric properties and inertness with respect to many substances.

Main directions of use:

water purification in pools;
production of blocks, tiles, glass, molds;
preparation of plaster solutions;
landscape design.

The quality of raw materials, which is used in various fields, is regulated by the provisions of GOST.

Types of quartz sand

Distinguish quartz sands natural and artificial origin. Sand of natural origin is extracted from quarries by mechanical means. Artificial - by crushing quartz rocks into fractions of different sizes.

According to the shape of the grains, quartz sand is divided into rounded and crushed. Rounded has a rounded appearance, crushed has an uneven, chipped shape.

From the area in which quartz sand is used, it is classified into sand glass brand, molding and fractional.

Distinctive features

If we compare quartz sand with building sand, then it will compare favorably with its monomineral (homogeneity) composition. The intergranular porosity provides it with the highest dirt holding capacity compared to other materials, and the slight wear of sand grains makes quartz sand quite valuable as a filter material.

Mining and production of quartz sand

Quartz sand is obtained by mining its deposits, or by crushing rocks containing quartz.

Extraction of natural quartz sand

The extraction of quartz sand in its natural occurrence occurs in various ways.

open way

It is used for quarry, mechanical mining method. In this case, the following construction machinery and equipment is used: excavators, dump trucks, bulldozers, scrapers, cable cars. According to the technology of open-pit mining of quartz sand, the upper layers of soil that hide the deposit are first removed. Then trenches are laid for the entrance of transport equipment.

Closed way

It is used in the development of underwater deposits of quartz sand, in riverbeds and reservoirs. In the closed method, a hydromechanical mining method is used. In this case, floating installations and dredgers are used. A powerful earthen pump is installed on fixed floating platforms.

The rock loosened with the help of a mechanical baking powder is sucked into the pipe system by a pump and poured into the dumps, from where the water that has got along with the sand flows back into the river. In the future, the dried sand is poured with the help of excavators into the bodies of dump trucks and taken out to the place of its further processing.

Quartz sand obtained during the development open and closed method, contains a large amount of impurities and therefore subject to further processing. It is washed and freed from all kinds of contaminants, then dried to the required level of humidity.

Feature of natural quartz sand in the round shape of its grains of sand, which served to get them the name - rounded. Such sand is often used for playgrounds and various sports arenas, as it is less traumatic and meets the sanitary standards for such facilities.

Production of artificial quartz sand

Artificial quartz sand is obtained from rocks containing quartz, by crushing them in special stone crushers. The processing process also includes washing and further drying.

When crushing quartz, its particles get an uneven shape and have different sizes. To obtain crushed sand, homogeneous in composition, it is sifted and distributed into fractions.

The following fractions are distinguished depending on the size of its grains of sand:

dusty - with a particle size of less than 0.1 mm;
medium fraction - has a diameter of 0.1 to 0.4 mm;
coarse sand - the size of the grains is from 0.5 to 1 mm;
quartz crumb is the largest fraction with grain sizes over 1 mm.

Artificial crushed quartz sand has a more uniform and pure composition than natural, as it is obtained by crushing whole rock. It is not polluted by foreign impurities, inevitable in the extraction of sand from the soil. The price of such sand will be much more than the cost of natural.

An integral feature of crushed quartz sand is its porous structure, which is due to the technology of its production. This feature gives artificial quartz sand the ability to collect a large amount of dirt on its surface, which is widely used in the production of industrial and household filters.

Characteristics and properties

Grains of quartz sand can have a diameter of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. Depending on the impurities contained in their composition, sand can be of different colors. For example, a high iron content gives it a brown color. Pink sand is obtained from quartz, which has titanium in its composition. Pure, free from impurities, quartz is colorless, or may have a milky tint. The sand obtained from such a rock is pure white in color.

The density of quartz sand is not less than 1400 g/cm3
Use by radioactivity - class 1
Mohs hardness - 7
Crushability - 0.3
Abrasion - 0.1

Chemical and physical properties

Quartz has a crystalline structure. This structure gives this mineral and the sand obtained from it exceptional strength and resistance to acids and alkalis. Quartz sand is a very hard and refractory material, its chemical composition determines its fire safety and increased fire resistance. Sand obtained from quartz is inert to most chemicals and has dielectric properties.

Requirements for industrial quartz sand

According to the chemical composition, industrial quartz sand must have at least 95% of the silicon oxide content. The ratio of clay impurities should not exceed 1%. The presence of iron oxide - no more than 1%. The moisture content in the dried sand should not exceed 10%.

Special requirements apply to glass grade sand. Depending on its chemical composition, it is divided into grades having the following letter designations:

OOVS - especially responsible for high translucency;
ОВС - responsible for high translucency;
VS - high translucency;
C - translucent;
B - colorless;
PB - semi-white;
PS - reduced translucency;
T - dark green glass.

Quartz sand for the silicate industry has a division into classes:

class A - the content of silicon oxide is more than 70%;
class B - not less than 60%;
class C - not less than 50%.

Applications of quartz sand

High physical and chemical properties of quartz sand find their application in a wide variety of industrial fields. At the same time, its use in a particular industry directly depends on the type of sand and its physical parameters.

Glass Grade Sand

It is used in the glass industry, for the production of fiberglass, glass containers, insulating materials, porcelain and ceramic products. Such sand has a fraction from 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

foundry sand

It is used in metallurgy in the manufacture of molds for casting. For foundry production, fractions that are uniform in particle size are used. The uniformity coefficient of molding sands should be between 72 and 80%. Products obtained from this kind of sand are characterized by increased refractoriness and strength.

Fractional sand

It finds its application in a wide variety of industries. Fractions with a particle diameter of less than 0.1 mm (pulverized) are used as a filler for high-quality building mixtures. For example, pulverized quartz is included in epoxy or polyurethane-based self-leveling floors, decorative plasters, and as a tinting pigment in finishing materials.

Quartz sand with a grain size of 0.2 to 0.8 mm is used for abrasive treatment of metal, glass and stone surfaces using sandblasting machines. At the same time, metal products get rid of foreign contaminants, rust and scale. Thus, it is possible to remove the old paint and prepare the product for re-painting. Glass and stone surfaces are ground with quartz sand to the required degree of smoothness.

Large fractions of quartz sand (quartz chips) are used in landscape design for the device of bulk paths and paths.
In everyday life, coarse quartz sand is used to decorate decorative elements of the interior.

Filters for industrial and domestic water treatment contain mixed fractions of quartz sand, but not below average. Such heterogeneity provides the best sorption properties of the filler. Quartz sand is also used in the purification of petroleum products from impurities.

As a primer for aquariums and in children's creativity, colored quartz sand. The principle of painting is to apply epoxy or polyurethane-based paint to the surface of quartz grains. Such sand is resistant to physical and chemical influences, does not wear out and does not burn out.

Colored quartz sand It is used in the production of mosaic plaster and other finishing materials, in giving building mixtures the desired color and for road marking of asphalt pavement.

In the food industry, quartz sand is used in the preparation of brewed coffee.

In the construction industry, quartz sand is used for the production of silicate bricks and refractory concretes.

Quartz sand is used in road works, as an anti-slip element of the road surface.

In animal husbandry, large fractions of quartz sand are added to feed to facilitate mechanical grinding of grain feed in the poultry crop.

The dielectric properties of quartz sand are used in the production of electrical fuse elements.

Application of quartz sand for pool water filtration

Currently, swimming pools with a water purification system using quartz sand as a filtration material have become widespread.

How quartz sand filters work

The pool filter consists of a pump and a filtration device that looks like a rounded container with a volume that can accommodate up to 50 kg of quartz sand. With the help of a pump, water is supplied to the upper part of the filtration device. After passing through a layer of sand, the water is purified and pours back into the pool through the outlet at the bottom of the filter.

What kind of sand is suitable for the filter

Crushed quartz sand with a particle fraction of 0.1 to 1 mm is used as a filler for the filter. At the same time, the purity of water directly depends on the size of the grains of sand. The finer the fraction, the smaller particles of dirt it can hold and the better the cleaning process will be.

The size of the filter capacity will also affect the purity of the water. The larger the volume, the more quartz sand it will hold, and the cleaner the water will be. A good filter is capable of trapping dirt particles as small as 20-25 microns.

Advantages of quartz sand as a pool filter

Replacement of quartz sand occurs no more than 1-2 times a year, depending on the degree of load. Compared to the cartridge cleaning method, the quartz sand filter is much more convenient and economical, as it does not require frequent replacement of the filter element.

Caring for a filter containing quartz sand does not require special knowledge and does not take much time.

The use of quartz sand in sandblasting

One of the main applications of quartz sand is its use as an abrasive material for mechanical cleaning or grinding of various types of surfaces and materials using sandblasting machines.

The basic principle of the sandblasting machine

The principle of operation of sandblasting machines is to supply a jet of air containing abrasive particles to the surface to be cleaned or sanded. The blows of sand grains knock down the dirt protruding beyond the surface of the material and polish it to the required state.

Very often, a jet of water is used as a kinetic force. Such sandblasting is used when it is necessary to obtain a degreased surface, with a minimum dust content.

What surfaces can be sandblasted?

Metal, stone and glass surfaces are suitable for sandblasting with quartz sand.

Rust, old paint and other types of contaminants are removed from metal. Building surfaces made of stone, brick, concrete and reinforced concrete are cleaned with sandblasting machines before the final construction work.

Glass surfaces are polished with the smallest fractions of quartz sand to the required state.

Which sand is suitable for sandblasting?

For sandblasting machines, sand of various fractions is used. The diameter of the abrasive depends on the type of sandblasting and the surface to be treated.

For rough cleaning of old and deep dirt and rust, coarse sand is taken, its diameter can reach up to 5 mm. Medium and fine fractions are used at the final stage of cleaning and polishing.

Requirements for quartz sand

There are generally accepted requirements for the quality of quartz sand for sandblasting. So, for example, the moisture content of sand with a dry cleaning method should not exceed 0.1%. An increase in the total volume of moisture will lead to the adhesion of sand grains to the nozzle wall and reduce the speed of their escape, and, accordingly, the impact force.

The specific density is determined by the mass and escape velocity of the quartz particle. At the same time, an increase in mass leads to a greater speed and power of impact of a grain of sand on the treated surface.

Another important indicator is the impact strength of the abrasive material. Depends on the composition of quartz sand and the presence of impurities in it. The impact strength depends on the strength of the particles supplied to the surface to be cleaned and the quality of the work performed.

Quartz is the most common mineral found in the earth's crust. Sand obtained as a result of its natural or artificial crushing is called quartz.

Types of quartz sand

According to the shape of the grains, quartz sand is divided into rounded and crushed. Rounded has a rounded appearance, crushed has an uneven, chipped shape.

From the area in which quartz sand is used, it is classified into sand glass brand, molding and fractional.

Distinctive features

Features of production and technical indicators of quartz sand make it a valuable raw material for industry. It is not used as a filler for building mixtures, they do not level the surface of the earth with it in construction, they do not fall asleep in trenches. This will be unprofitable from an economic point of view. The cost of quartz sand is much higher than the price of conventional construction sand.
If we compare quartz sand with building sand, then it will compare favorably with its monomineral (homogeneity) composition. The intergranular porosity provides it with the highest dirt holding capacity compared to other materials, and the slight wear of sand grains makes quartz sand quite valuable as a filter material.

Mining and production of quartz sand

Quartz sand is obtained by mining its deposits, or by crushing rocks containing quartz.

Extraction of natural quartz sand
The extraction of quartz sand in its natural occurrence occurs in various ways.

open way
It is used for quarry, mechanical mining method. In this case, the following construction machinery and equipment is used: excavators, dump trucks, bulldozers, scrapers, cable cars. According to the technology of open-pit mining of quartz sand, the upper layers of soil that hide the deposit are first removed. Then trenches are laid for the entrance of transport equipment.

Closed way
It is used in the development of underwater deposits of quartz sand, in riverbeds and reservoirs. In the closed method, a hydromechanical mining method is used. In this case, floating installations and dredgers are used. A powerful earthen pump is installed on fixed floating platforms. The rock loosened with the help of a mechanical baking powder is sucked into the pipe system by a pump and poured into the dumps, from where the water that has got along with the sand flows back into the river. In the future, the dried sand is poured with the help of excavators into the bodies of dump trucks and taken out to the place of its further processing.

Production of artificial quartz sand
Artificial quartz sand is obtained from rocks containing quartz, by crushing them in special stone crushers. The processing process also includes washing and further drying.

When crushing quartz, its particles get an uneven shape and have different sizes. To obtain crushed sand, homogeneous in composition, it is sifted and distributed into fractions.

The following fractions are distinguished depending on the size of its grains of sand:

dusty - with a particle size of less than 0.1 mm;
medium fraction - has a diameter of 0.1 to 0.4 mm;
coarse sand - the size of the grains is from 0.5 to 1 mm;
quartz crumb is the largest fraction with grain sizes over 1 mm.

Characteristics and properties

The density of quartz sand is not less than 1400 g/cm3
Use by radioactivity - class 1
Mohs hardness - 7
Crushability - 0.3
Abrasion - 0.1

Chemical and physical properties

Requirements for industrial quartz sand
According to the chemical composition, industrial quartz sand must have at least 95% of the silicon oxide content. The ratio of clay impurities should not exceed 1%. The presence of iron oxide - no more than 1%. The moisture content in the dried sand should not exceed 10%.
Special requirements apply to glass grade sand. Depending on its chemical composition, it is divided into grades having the following letter designations:

OOVS - especially responsible for high translucency;
ОВС - responsible for high translucency;
VS - high translucency;
C - translucent;
B - colorless;
PB - semi-white;
PS - reduced translucency;
T - dark green glass.

Quartz sand for the silicate industry has a division into classes:

class A - the content of silicon oxide is more than 70%;
class B - not less than 60%;
class C - not less than 50%.

Applications of quartz sand

Glass Grade Sand
It is used in the glass industry, for the production of fiberglass, glass containers, insulating materials, porcelain and ceramic products. Such sand has a fraction from 0.1 to 0.4 mm. The content of iron oxide in the feedstock affects the grade of the resulting glass. To clean sand from iron-containing impurities, its magnetic enrichment is used. In this case, the raw material is subjected to magnetic separation by dry or wet methods.

foundry sand
It is used in metallurgy in the manufacture of molds for casting. For foundry production, fractions that are uniform in particle size are used. The uniformity coefficient of molding sands should be between 72 and 80%. Products obtained from this kind of sand are characterized by increased refractoriness and strength.

Fractional sand
It finds its application in a wide variety of industries.
Fractions with a particle diameter of less than 0.1 mm (pulverized) are used as a filler for high-quality building mixtures. For example, pulverized quartz is included in epoxy or polyurethane-based self-leveling floors, decorative plasters, and as a tinting pigment in finishing materials.

Colored quartz sand It is used in the production of mosaic plaster and other finishing materials, in giving building mixtures the desired color and for road marking of asphalt pavement.

In the food industry, quartz sand is used in the preparation of brewed coffee.

In the construction industry, quartz sand is used for the production of silicate bricks and refractory concretes.

Quartz sand is used in road works, as an anti-slip element of the road surface.

In animal husbandry, large fractions of quartz sand are added to feed to facilitate mechanical grinding of grain feed in the poultry crop.

The dielectric properties of quartz sand are used in the production of electrical fuse elements.

Application of quartz sand for pool water filtration

Currently, swimming pools with a water purification system using quartz sand as a filtration material have become widespread.

How quartz sand filters work
The pool filter consists of a pump and a filtration device that looks like a rounded container with a volume that can accommodate up to 50 kg of quartz sand. With the help of a pump, water is supplied to the upper part of the filtration device. After passing through a layer of sand, the water is purified and pours back into the pool through the outlet at the bottom of the filter.

What kind of sand is suitable for the filter
Crushed quartz sand with a particle fraction of 0.1 to 1 mm is used as a filler for the filter. At the same time, the purity of water directly depends on the size of the grains of sand. The finer the fraction, the smaller particles of dirt it can hold and the better the cleaning process will be. The size of the filter capacity will also affect the purity of the water. The larger the volume, the more quartz sand it will hold, and the cleaner the water will be. A good filter is capable of trapping dirt particles as small as 20-25 microns.

Advantages of quartz sand as a pool filter
Replacement of quartz sand occurs no more than 1-2 times a year, depending on the degree of load. Compared to the cartridge cleaning method, the quartz sand filter is much more convenient and economical, as it does not require frequent replacement of the filter element.
Caring for a filter containing quartz sand does not require special knowledge and does not take much time.

The use of quartz sand in sandblasting

One of the main applications of quartz sand is its use as an abrasive material for mechanical cleaning or grinding of various types of surfaces and materials using sandblasting machines.

The basic principle of the sandblasting machine
The principle of operation of sandblasting machines is to supply a jet of air containing abrasive particles to the surface to be cleaned or sanded. The blows of sand grains knock down the dirt protruding beyond the surface of the material and polish it to the required state.
Very often, a jet of water is used as a kinetic force. Such sandblasting is used when it is necessary to obtain a degreased surface, with a minimum dust content.

What surfaces can be sandblasted?
Metal, stone and glass surfaces are suitable for sandblasting with quartz sand.
Rust, old paint and other types of contaminants are removed from metal.
Building surfaces made of stone, brick, concrete and reinforced concrete are cleaned with sandblasting machines before the final construction work.
Glass surfaces are polished with the smallest fractions of quartz sand to the required state.

Which sand is suitable for sandblasting?
For sandblasting machines, sand of various fractions is used. The diameter of the abrasive depends on the type of sandblasting and the surface to be treated. For rough cleaning of old and deep dirt and rust, coarse sand is taken, its diameter can reach up to 5 mm. Medium and fine fractions are used at the final stage of cleaning and polishing.

Requirements for quartz sand
There are generally accepted requirements for the quality of quartz sand for sandblasting. So, for example, the moisture content of sand with a dry cleaning method should not exceed 0.1%. An increase in the total volume of moisture will lead to the adhesion of sand grains to the nozzle wall and reduce the speed of their escape, and, accordingly, the impact force.