Silica Sand – General Purposes
Silica sand is a key component in the production of glass. It provides the necessary silica content, clarity, and chemical stability to produce different types of glass, including flat glass, containers, fiberglass, and specialty glass.
Silica sand is used in foundries as a molding material for creating molds and cores for metal casting. It provides high refractoriness, dimensional stability, and good permeability, allowing for the proper flow of molten metal and the production of accurate castings.
Silica sand is used in various construction applications. It is a key ingredient in concrete and mortar, providing strength, durability, and workability. Silica sand is also used as a filler in asphalt mixtures and as a component in bricks, tiles, and other construction materials.
Silica sand is widely used as a filter medium in water treatment processes. It effectively removes suspended solids, sediments, and impurities from water, making it suitable for drinking water, swimming pools, wastewater treatment, and industrial filtration applications.
Silica sand with specific properties, such as high purity and roundness, is used in hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) operations to extract oil and natural gas from underground shale formations. The sand acts as a proppant, keeping fractures open to allow the flow of hydrocarbons.
Silica sand is commonly used in sports and recreational applications. It is used as infill material in synthetic turf systems for sports fields, providing cushioning, stability, and proper ball bounce. Silica sand is also used in horse arenas, golf course bunkers, and playground surfaces.
Silica sand is used as an abrasive material in various applications, including sandblasting, metal polishing, and surface preparation. It is valued for its hardness, durability, and ability to remove contaminants and create a smooth finish on surfaces.
Silica sand is utilized in the production of ceramics, such as sanitary ware, tableware, and decorative items. It is also used as a raw material in the manufacturing of refractory bricks and shapes for high-temperature applications like furnaces and kilns.