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What is made from quartz sand? Quartz sand: application and properties. Distinctive properties and qualities of quartz sand

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

The main areas of application of quartz sand: Decoration Materials, glass production, paint for road markings, filtration and water treatment.

But it is beginning to gain more and more popularity every day. quartz sand. What is he like? And what is its main purpose? Knowing all this is very important if you want to use such material in construction. Therefore, we will consider these points in more detail.

Characteristics and basic properties of quartz sand

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

Quartz sand is most often a very free-flowing homogeneous material, which, depending on the specific subtype of quartz and the nature of its crushing, differs in fractions. Minimum size grains of sand will be about 0.05 mm, maximum - 3 mm. Very often, quartz material contains additional impurities in small quantities, but can contain up to 90% silica.

No matter how it is obtained, it goes through additional thorough cleaning, sifting, and also sorting into fractions. This makes it possible to separate the material by grade, as well as to weed out low-quality sand and debris from it.

It has several other properties that distinguish it favorably from all other types of sand. This is a high adsorption capacity, unusual resistance to mechanical and temperature influences, and also a high degree of adhesion to various materials and mixtures.

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Areas of use

Today, the scope of application of quartz sand is quite wide.

It covers manufacturing, construction, the food and pharmaceutical industries, and other industries where the use of such material is often quite unexpected, but completely justified.

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Use in construction

The operating principle of a quartz sand filter for pool water purification

Quartz sand is often used to make all kinds of blocks and bricks. Concrete blocks with addition quartz material have a pretty calm color scheme pastel shades. And this, in turn, makes it possible to successfully use them for facade construction and decoration. The same goes for brick. Moreover, bricks and blocks are extremely durable. Therefore, bricks for stoves are often made with the addition of quartz sand.

Cement and various mixtures for laying asphalt deserve special attention. Thus, their highest quality options are still produced on the basis of sandy quartz. As for cement, all brands of modern Portland cement are sold with the addition of sand. This increases the adhesion of the future solution to the surface. In some cases, such an amount of this material is added to the cement that it is not necessary to add it additionally.

Expensive asphalt pavements They also contain sand of the quartz type. This is especially true for roads where traffic is high. After all, the load on the coating is quite large, so the durability of the asphalt must be corresponding.

Quartz sand is the best additive in plaster solutions for external or internal types of decoration. In this case, you can choose not only the brand that matches the functionality, but also its shade. And this will greatly affect the final shade of the plastered coating.

Plastering solutions based on quartz sand are the most beautiful and reliable. For a long time, they do not give absolutely any cracks, and also facilitate the process of giving the surface an ideal smoothness due to the fact that the quartz mixture is selected to a specific fraction suitable for the work.

Quartz sand is a type of foundry sand. This is crushed quartz, which is used in different areas. It's being mined different ways. In our article you can see a photo of quartz sand to further understand what we are actually talking about.

Classification

Quartz sand is divided into:

  • river (is the cleanest and most expensive);
  • sea ​​(particles mixed with clay and silt elements. Demand for it is less than for river);
  • soil (burial, located under a layer of clay, soil. It is characterized by an acute-angled shape and roughness. Used in construction work);
  • gully (has impurities of silt. These are rough fractions of an acute-angled shape. They are part of plaster and concrete solutions);
  • mountainous (origin is located in mountainous areas. Its characteristics are similar to ravine).

Quartz sand is divided into natural and artificial. In the first case, rounded, natural sand appears as a result of exposure to water and air. The quartz grains become smooth and round.

In the second case, a vein of quartz is crushed, producing crushed sand. The rock is blasted, obtaining acute-angled elements, which are divided into fractions. Artificial sand is characterized by monominerality.









Its advantages include the following:

  • Silicon oxide IV is 98%.
  • The composition contains no impurities of organic substances.
  • Resistant to mechanical and chemical influences.
  • Can withstand high temperatures easily.

Application

This inorganic mineral has a number of properties that place it among unique materials. Quartz sand:

  • does not react with other chemicals;
  • has a high bulk density;
  • durable (the grains are almost not subject to abrasion);
  • radiation safe;
  • is a good sorbent;
  • may be subject to staining.

Due to its characteristics, the mineral has become necessary material in many areas. How is quartz sand used? It is used in:

  • light and heavy industry (fractionated sand is filled building mixtures High Quality. It is one of the components of the self-leveling floor, decorative plasters);
  • metallurgy (molding sand is involved in creating molds for casting. The resulting products have fire-resistant properties and are highly durable);
  • glass production (participates in the production of glass containers, fiberglass, and other materials. Magnetic cleaning removes iron impurities from the material);
  • construction (participates in the creation sand-lime bricks, concrete with fire-resistant properties);
  • housing and communal services;
  • transport services;
  • water purification (included in filters due to their absorbent characteristics);
  • livestock farming (added to feed);
  • production of composite electrical fuses (used due to dielectric properties).

Mineral deposits

Where to find quartz sand? This inorganic mineral is often found at the bottom, the banks of natural reservoirs, and in quarries. Its deposits are known in Russia, India, Switzerland, Burma and other countries. Formed as a result of the disintegration of granite. In Russia, it is mined in the Bryansk, Moscow, Volgograd, and Kaluga regions. Also, near Orenburg, in the Urals. There are deposits in the river beds of Samara and Ural.

Mining Features

Quartz can be divided into primary and secondary. The first variety is formed directly during the disintegration of granite and is located under a layer of clay and mixtures. This is decomposed granite, which lies in one place for a long time, without being exposed to water, sun, or air.

Secondary quartz is a mineral that is affected by water. Streams of water wash away and transport it to other places. As a rule, accumulations form at the bottom of rivers.

Mining of primary quartz

It is extracted from its deposits and transported for processing. Then the clay is dissolved, the quartz is dehydrated and calcined. The material is divided into fractions and packaged.

Mining of secondary quartz

Raw materials are collected from reservoirs by pump. The mixture is then transferred to storage areas. A quarry is formed on the ground, deposits are collected using an excavator and other equipment.

Crushed quartz

Obtained as a result of an explosion. It is then processed into ground quartz sand. It is applied for sandblasting works. Its sieving is optimal, and its composition is granulometric. This allows sandblasting of surfaces to be effective. Crushed quartz can be used to clean metal, wood, plastic, glass, concrete and brick surfaces.



How to choose sand

For each type of work you need to select sand of the appropriate thickness. Quartz sand can be fine, coarse-grained, or medium-sized. The larger the fraction, the rougher the processing will be.

The material costs more than regular sand. Its processing is not easy or cheap. The mineral is very durable and lasts a long time.

Photo of quartz sand

Sand is a material that is used in any construction. On this moment There are several types of it. These are quartz, river and gully. Each of these types has certain characteristics. Today we will talk about quartz sand, which is widely used not only in construction, but also in industry.

Basic properties of quartz sand

Quartz sand is crushed quartz, which is obtained either naturally or after special processing. The material is very free-flowing and homogeneous. Depending on what rock it is obtained from, it can be divided into fractions. Their size can vary from 0.05 mm to 3 mm. There are often impurities in the material, usually silica.

There are several types of quartz sand depending on its appearance:

With any extraction method, silicon dioxide undergoes processing and purification, due to which it is sorted according to type and cleaned of unnecessary debris and impurities.

Quartz sand has high absorption and also adheres well to various mixtures and materials. In addition, the material is extremely resistant to temperature and mechanical influences.

Application of quartz sand

The material is used in many industries. This includes construction, industry, pharmaceuticals and even food industry. In addition, its use can be found even in those areas where, it would seem, it is not at all appropriate.

Construction

In the construction industry, the use of quartz sand is often found in various building materials, such as blocks. Such blocks have a calm color and are particularly durable. Attractive appearance allows this material to be used for decorating building facades and landscapes. Also, to give special strength to bricks for stoves, silicon dioxide is also added.

Particular attention should be paid to the fact that the most durable asphalt and concrete are made using quartz sand. Thus, all modern brands of cement are produced only with the addition of this material to increase adhesion to the surface. Also on the market are primer options with the addition of quartz sand.

Important! Sometimes there is so much sand in the finished cement that additional sand is added to create concrete mixture not required.

Since the load on the road surface in those places where there is constantly high traffic, it is better to lay asphalt, which contains crushed quartz, which gives strength.

This kind of material is added to decorative plaster for finishing surfaces. Due to the variety of quartz, the finished coating may differ in color and texture. This coating can last long time, and also if decorative plaster with a fine fraction is chosen, give a perfectly even coating.

Once the melting point is reached, silicon dioxide can even create extremely strong glass. In addition, the mass is also added rhinestone and vein quartz.

Industry and water treatment

To give strength to manufactured elements made of earthenware or porcelain, quartz sand is also added to the material. This is how these fragile products can last for quite a long time.

In the pharmaceutical industry, quartz material is used to make a variety of lenses. Due to the fact that the material has high abrasive properties, the finished glass after sandblasting is perfectly smooth. This treatment does not affect the transparency of the lenses in any way, since white sand is used for it. Sand is used for sandblasting, intended for processing other materials.

IN Food Industry quartz sand is used for water purification. Thanks to its unique properties, it completely removes all harmful impurities and particles. Most expensive filters use only this material.

But such cleaning material must be changed periodically so that it does not lose its cleaning ability. Otherwise, it will become dirty and unsuitable for the function it performs. In addition, the water will not be enriched with those minerals that are contained in it.

Quartz sand for private use

It is very common to use quartz sand to clean swimming pools. To do this, you need finely dispersed quartz, which remarkably purifies water from colloids, as well as mechanical impurities.

The cleaning process is very simple. It consists of running water through a pool filter with silicon dioxide inside and exiting the already purified liquid. To increase the service life, you must strictly follow the instructions for use and periodically change the material inside.

Advice! To prevent sand from becoming so clogged, you can clean the pool filter once a week by running water in the opposite direction.

The frequency of replacing the filter material depends on the body of water in which it is placed. In a constantly used pool, replacement should be carried out once every 2 years, for a seasonal pool, once every 5 years is enough, and for a small country tank, replacement should be done once every 2 months.

Quartz sand is actively used for aquariums. And this is no coincidence, because there is no harmful effects It has no effect on living organisms and water, but adds a special decorative effect.

If the sand is painted in any color, then this design will distinguish this particular aquarium. But colored quartz sand will distract from the fish and concentrate the observer’s attention only on the bottom. White sand The quartz type is not very suitable for an aquarium, since the fish do not stand out against its background, but are somewhat lost.

But the black version will perfectly emphasize the external beauty of the fish and fit harmoniously into the world. The most the best option there will be a mixture of white and black sand, which will most succinctly emphasize the beauty of the aquarium.

But before using such material for an aquarium, it is processed carefully. It must be washed with running water, boiled or doused with boiling water. The layer of sand at the bottom can be between 3 and 8 cm with a slope towards the front wall. To remove contaminants from sand, a vacuum-based siphon is used.

You can buy quartz sand for private pool use in 25 and 50 kg packages. Also in pet stores there are small packs of silicon dioxide. IN industrial scale such material, of course, is used in larger quantities.

Conclusion

Material universal type Silicon dioxide is suitable for use in various areas of life, including food. Such popularity is earned thanks to the high quality characteristics, which give strength to any material to which this sand is added. The high degree of water purification and its saturation with minerals allow the material to take an honorable position for private use. But not only beneficial properties Quartz sand is famous. It also has high decorative characteristics, which can decorate both the surface of the wall and the bottom of the aquarium.

Sand is the most commonly used material in the construction industry; not a single building construction process can be done without it. In practice, several types of sand are used: gully, quartz and river. Each of them has its own characteristics of production and operation.

Quartz sand, which is justified in many areas of human life, has a number of distinctive characteristics that distinguish it from other materials.

In terms of its structure, this material is crushed quartz, which is formed in natural environment, or it is obtained after special processing. The structure of the sand is homogeneous and free-flowing. There is a division into types depending on the size of the fractions, the value of which ranges from 0.05 to 3 mm. The material may contain additives in the form of silica.

Types of quartz sand

  • Rounded . The shape resembles round granules. Mining occurs in quarries or rivers. Mandatory procedure is calcination under the influence high temperatures. The scope of application of sand is the formation of paths and platforms of various types.
  • Shredded. This is pure silicon dioxide, which has a heterogeneous shape with sharp edges. Due to its absorbent properties, sand is used to clean swimming pools, artificial ponds and other bodies of water. After extraction, this material is cleaned of all impurities and debris.

Note. The excellent absorbency of quartz sand allows the material to firmly adhere to various compositions and mixtures.

Application area

Sand is used in many fields: industrial, construction, medical, food. Also, it has found its application in ordinary everyday conditions.


 Quartz sand application in construction. The material is a common component in mixtures for preparing various building materials. For example, quartz sand is actively used when mixing the composition and forming blocks from it. The result is a durable and reliable material for building houses, with excellent color and nice view. In addition, very often quartz sand is added to facing mixtures. To make the brick stronger and more durable, silicon dioxide is added to the mixture during its production.

Quartz sand is included in the mixture for laying asphalt, as well as in the production of concrete. The entire modern range of cement contains quartz sand. This component provides a high degree of adhesion to the surface. In addition, they are produced with quartz sand.

Taking into account the fact that quartz sand has different shades, the plastered surface may have differences in texture and color. Thanks to the high strength of the material, the coating on your home will serve you faithfully for quite a long time. Adding quartz sand to plastering mixtures provides a smooth finish.

Note.

In the manufacture of porcelain services, earthenware products, finely ground quartz sand is also added to the material.

We have already mentioned that quartz is used even in medicine, including pharmaceuticals. The material is mainly used in the manufacture of lenses. Due to its excellent abrasiveness, lenses made of quartz sand acquire ideal smoothness. The transparency of glass is not lost when processed with quartz, since white quartz sand is used in the work. In addition, quartz is the main component of sandblasting used to process various materials.

Quartz sand is known for its remarkable properties absorption, so it's successful used for water purification from various particles and unhealthy impurities. To create filters that differ high cost, they use quartz sand. The main thing is to replace the material in a timely manner, since over time it loses its cleaning properties.

Quartz sand is also actively used for domestic purposes., including for cleaning systems. Mostly fine-grained quartz sand is used, which has an excellent ability to purify water from colloids and mechanical impurities. The process of using quartz sand to filter water involves passing water through the filter, resulting in a pure substance.

Note.

To prevent rapid contamination of the quartz sand in the filter, you can use the reverse water flow method once a week.

How often should the quartz sand in the filter be changed?

This depends on the type of reservoir and the frequency of its use. If the pool is used regularly, then it should be replaced every two years. If the reservoir is used seasonally, it is enough to look into the filter installation once every five years. Reservoirs small sizes on summer cottage require replacement of the filter element every two months.

In everyday life, quartz sand is used for aquariums. In addition to purifying water, sand also performs a decorative function. The material is often dyed in different colors, so you can choose any shade you like. Excellent choice will be a combination of black and white quartz, but bright colors They will only distract the fish. Before adding sand to the aquarium, it must be thoroughly processed. To do this, the sand is washed under running water and then doused with boiling water. You need to pour a layer with a slight angle of inclination towards the front wall.

Features of quartz sand

The material has a main distinctive feature, which is that quartz sand is a monomineral, that is, it consists only of quartz. Thanks to this, it is so valued in the industrial sector. The small content of additional elements makes it possible to produce transparent glass from it. In addition, the so-called intergranular porosity allows it to absorb more than other types of sand can. It is also worth noting the excellent wear resistance and strength of sand grains.

Chemical nature of quartz sand

Quartz crystals provide the material that is made from it with excellent operating properties. This is both strength and resistance to acids and alkalis. High level strength, refractory chemical composition material, fire resistance - that’s why quartz sand is so valued.

Quartz sand fraction

  • Dust – less than 0.1 mm;
  • Fine fraction – 0.1 – 0.8 mm;
  • Mid-fraction – 0.8 – 1.6 mm;
  • Large fraction – 1.6 – 6.0 mm.

The first two types of quartz sand are added to the compositions of various building materials: putty, plaster, grout, abrasives, paint. Medium-fraction sand is used for purification, water treatment, sandblasting, and is also added to mixtures for construction, finishing and decorative plasters, and self-leveling floors. Coarse-grained quartz sand is used in production paving slabs, concrete blocks, as well as creating landscape design.

Quartz sand for sandblasting

Sandblasting is one of the effective methods processing various surfaces. The process itself goes as follows:


Directions of cleaning work:

  • Removing rust and dirt;
  • Removal of fat deposits;
  • Matte glass;
  • Cleaning of stone and concrete masonry;
  • Creation of roughness for subsequent processing.

Self-leveling floors and quartz sand

Given polymer coating for floors refers to decorative materials. Distinctive Features such floors are:

  • Durability;
  • Strength;
  • Perfect smoothness without seams;
  • Hygiene;
  • Wear resistance;
  • Easy to use and clean.

Quartz sand is used as part of self-leveling floors in order to reduce the cost of pouring work. Often such surfaces are created under conditions of increased load on the surface from. To add attractiveness, varnishes or mastic are used.

Quartz sand in glass production

Requirements for the quality of quartz sand for glass production:

  • Silicon oxide mass ≥ 95%;
  • Clay ≤ 1%;
  • iron oxide ≤ 1%.

For high-quality brands, the amount of silicon oxide can be at the level of 99.8%. The moisture content in dry sand is no more than 0.5%. The more additional impurities in the sand, the lower the transparency of the finished product for glass made from it for windows, for laboratories, and the electrical field. Considering the scope of use of glass products, the issue of the degree of purification of raw materials must be given due attention.

Brands of quartz sand depending on the chemical composition:

Quartz sand and coatings for sports facilities

During the installation of sports fields and laying the covering according to the type artificial grass, quartz sand backfill is often used together with rubber-based granulate, or only sand. Football fields are filled with the first composition, since it reduces the risk of injury to athletes. In addition, such coatings are created on tennis courts, children's playgrounds and school playgrounds. On multifunctional sites, quartz sand is poured between the grass.

Quartz sand, due to its drainage abilities, will absorb moisture during rain, and, for example, puddles will not form on a football field.

Quartz sand and paving

Quartz sand, as you know, can be multi-colored, which is why it in the best possible way Suitable for marking areas of special danger or areas of increased attention. Colored quartz sand marks road pedestrians, public transport stops, and entrances to children's play areas. educational institutions and industrial facilities. Increased roughness improves the adhesion of wheels and road surface, thereby reducing skidding yaw.