What is colored quartz sand used for? Quartz sand: what is this material and why is it needed? Characteristics and basic properties of quartz sand

– granular material with a particle size from 0.05 to 3 mm, formed during the destruction of quartz-containing rocks. Typically, quartz sands contain various impurities: iron oxides, clayey materials, feldspars, carbonates and others. Impurities give the sand a color ranging from yellow to red-brown. Pure quartz sands contain up to 99% silica.

Production of quartz sand

Natural quartz sand, mined in a quarry, goes through a complex processing cycle: it is washed, cleaned of impurities, enriched and then dried, if necessary. Artificial is obtained by crushing and sieving quartz-containing rocks. Quartz sands are sorted into fractions: the 0.1–0.4 mm fraction is considered sand, the coarse sand is 0.5–1.0 mm, and dusted quartz is everything less than 0.1 mm. A mixture with grains larger than 1.0 mm is considered quartz chips.

Application of quartz sand

Due to its high sorption capacity, quartz sand is widely used in purification filters for drinking water and wastewater treatment.

Quartz sand is very resistant to atmospheric, chemical and physical actions, is not afraid of aggressive environments and high temperatures, due to which it is common in construction organizations in the production of cement (including Portland cement used in cementing gas and oil wells), brick, asphalt, for the production of decorative and finishing building materials, for plastering facades and interiors, for design work. Concrete blocks made using quartz sand, have a soft pastel color color scheme all kinds of colors.

Quartz sand is also used in earthenware, glass and porcelain production, in the production of paints and varnishes, various filters, in sandblasting machines, in chemicals. Industry, foundry. Quartz sand is used as a substitute material for the production of fire-resistant building materials. Thanks to its good abrasive properties it finds great application when grinding lenses and other polished materials, when sawing stone. Quartz sand is also used as an arc-extinguishing element in the production of electrical fuses.

In industry, quartz sand is divided into two main groups. The first of them is aggregate sand, which is produced in various fractional compositions from 0.2 mm to 5 mm and is used for filling into filters, for cleaning, as well as for the production of dry mixes and concrete, and of course for sandblasting works. The second group is foundry sands, which are used in the foundry industry. These are sands with a fairly hard fractional composition, for example 0.25 mm or 0.3 mm. They have a high uniformity coefficient, which is 72-80%. These characteristics make it possible to use fractionated sands not only in foundries, but also as an additive in the production of dry mixtures and metal processing (sandblasting).

Characteristics of quartz sand

Humidity less than 10%.

Sand for production silicate products divided into classes: A (SiO2 content not less than 70%), B (SiO2 content not less than 60%), C (SiO2 content not less than 50%).

Marking quartz sand

The marking of quartz sand for the glass industry contains a letter index indicating the scope of application, the mass fraction of iron oxide in thousandths, and the grade of product of this brand (highest, first, second).

Letter indices:

“OOVS” - for especially critical products with high translucency;

“OVS” - for critical products with high translucency;

“BC” - for products with high translucency;

“C” - for translucent products;

“B” - for colorless products;

“PB” - for semi-white products;

“PS” - for products with reduced translucency;

"T" - for products made of dark green glass. Advantages of quartz sand

Uniformity of structure and monominerality (does not contain impurities). High strength and resistance to mechanical, chemical, and atmospheric influences. Possibility of painting in any color. It is characterized by large intergranular porosity, which gives quartz sand greater dirt holding capacity and provides excellent sorption abilities.

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

The size of sand fractions varies between 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 (which is naturally clear or white) different shades. The color range 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 SiO2. The color of quartz sand without impurities is milky.

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

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

Quartz sand is divided into several categories based on its origin. River, mountain and cellar sand are mined respectively on the banks of rivers, in rocky outcrops and under the soil at some depth. The river variety contains a minimal amount of pollutants.

Quartz sand is also divided according to the shape of the grains into rounded and crushed. The rounded one looks like rounded grains, the crushed one looks like uneven crushed grains.

Extraction and production of quartz sand

Extraction of quartz fractional sand is carried out open method from a quarry or by a dredger from natural deposits in the floodplains of rivers and lakes.

Low amount of impurities and a large number of quartz - this is what distinguishes the developments in which quartz sand is mined from the quarries in which ordinary sand is mined construction sand. The extracted raw materials pass through a series of technological processes: washing from dirt deposits and cleaning from impurities using a chemical method.

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

The extraction process with a dredge goes like this: a mixture of sand and water from the bottom of the reservoir is pumped and transferred through a special pipeline to the storage site. The water is gradually separated from the extracted soil and goes through the drains back into the reservoir. The resulting material is sent to the enterprise for further enrichment and separation into fractions.

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

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, consisting of only one mineral - quartz. This uniformity makes it valuable industrial raw materials. 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 greatest dirt holding capacity. In addition to this property, there is a low degree of wear of sand grains, and quartz sand already performs well as a filter material.

Chemical properties of quartz sand

The crystalline structure of quartz gives it and the sand obtained from it exceptional characteristics of strength and resistance to alkaline and acidic materials. Very high hardness, refractoriness and chemical composition of quartz sand determine its increased fire resistance and fire safety. The material's properties correspond to a dielectric and is inert to a wide range of chemicals.

Physical properties of quartz sand

Sand has 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 is 10) use for radioactivity - class 1

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 loose state to its volume. This value includes the pores in the sand grains and the air spaces between them.

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

To change density, the chemical composition or molecular structure must be changed. Bulk density is less than true. Material density - important characteristic, which must be taken into account when calculating storage space, its transportation and movement by lifting and transport equipment.

Abrasion, crushability and hardness of quartz sand - indirect indicators its strength. To determine the values, grains are tested on a rotating abrasive metal circle, the mass of fractions is compressed mechanically and the grain scratches the standard and, conversely, the grain standard.

Quartz sand fractions:

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

Silica sand, dusty and fine-grained, is used in various building materials, such as building mixtures, putties, grouts, abrasives, thin plasters and paints.

Medium-grain quartz sand is used for filtration and purification of liquids, for sandblasting, for building mixtures, facade and interior plasters, self-leveling floors, concrete solutions, in landscape design, for backfilling sports grounds.

The material of large fractions is used for the manufacture of paving slabs, concrete blocks, and 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

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

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

Sandblasting works

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

Sand grains fly at great speed and destroy upper layer surface, cleaning it from scale, corrosion and other coatings. It is necessary to ensure that along 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; frosting glass; cleaning concrete and stone masonry; roughening the surface for further processing.

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

Quartz sand for self-leveling floors

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

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 surface. concrete surface. In this case, self-leveling floors are used as a finishing decorative coating.

It has a smooth and attractive surface and 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 the quartz filler, the abrasion of which is extremely low. To save decorative properties the floor must be covered with mastic, protective varnish or wax.

Quartz sand in the foundry industry

Molding quartz sand is used in the metallurgical industry to make casting molds and cores. The quality of casting in one-time molds is directly related to the characteristics of the molding sand.

The accuracy of the casting, the quality of its surface, the structure and properties of the casting alloys, the likelihood of developing defects and the need for complex finishing operations are highly dependent on the characteristics of the sand. The complex of operations associated with the manufacture of the mold accounts for approximately 60% of the labor costs for obtaining castings. Molding quartz sands have a homogeneity coefficient from 72 to 80% and differ 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 production must meet special requirements. The proportion of silicon oxide in the material must be at least 95%, clay impurities must be no more than 1%, iron oxide - no more than 1%.

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

Quartz sand is the basis for making all types of glass. Regular window, medical, fiberglass, laboratory, electronics, and so on are produced 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 according to grades that have letter designation and purpose:

OOVS - especially critical products with high translucency; OVS - critical products with high translucency; BC - products with high translucency; S - 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 a coating in the form artificial grass a backfill of quartz sand can be used in combination with rubber granulate or only quartz sand. The following composite composition is used on football fields: rubber crumb softens friction in case of a sliding fall of the player. On tennis courts, multifunctional playgrounds, school stadiums and training areas, only quartz sand is filled between the grass.

The excellent drainage properties of sand, provided that the grass is laid on the field correctly, is a guarantee that even with precipitation, puddles will not stagnate on the field and dirt will not form. Quartz sand for sports surfaces is environmentally safe, neutral to the environment and has proven strength. Thus, the use of quartz sand as a substrate artificial turf Gives special comfort when playing and training on sports fields.

For road surfaces

Quartz pavement sand can be used to mark high-risk areas and special attention areas.

Colored material can be used to highlight road crossings, public transport stops, and entrances to industrial facilities or schools. Sharp turns on highways covered with quartz chips will reduce the danger of driving through such areas. Increased roughness will increase traction and reduce the risk of uncontrolled 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 proper shape without much effort.

Quartz sand is virtually indispensable in a variety of applications and is one of the most important components for the home and industry.

Technologies using it have been developed 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 application. For practicality, the material can be given the highest score.

Quartz sand is a material that is of natural origin and is distinguished by such characteristics as chemical inertness, resistance to destruction, strength, and the possibility of sorption. Most often it is used in the filtration of petroleum 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 capacity

Quartz sand is used for filters 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 higher 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 is almost always used for a swimming pool, artificial pond or lake, or rather, for their filtration system. The recommended fractions in these cases range from 0.4 to 6.0 millimeters.

Use in construction

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

The use of this material in the manufacture of plaster and building mixtures is due to its high chemical resistance, mechanical resistance to crushing and abrasion, as well as color stability. Small 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 water wells, and as a fertilizer for poultry, as well as in the form of a filler for electrical insulators and waterproofing material.B Lately This type of sand can be found in aquarium and landscape design.

Production

Being quite common natural material, quartz sand does not directly flow from the quarry into filters, building materials or other areas of application. This can be primarily explained by the nuance that to solve certain problems it is necessary to select a suitable faction. In addition, sand usually contains a large number of various impurities, and therefore the material needs pre-treatment, which is a rather complex process.

Features of application

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

At the same time, the importance of the fraction for this material should not be underestimated, because in certain industries (for example, in glass production) it plays a key role. One more important criterion, which characterizes quartz sand, is its lack chemical reaction. This applies, first of all, to construction, because after hardening cement mortars or concrete, undesirable consequences may occur.

Quartz sand is made from quartz, natural mineral, which is found in large quantities. 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, but also the purpose of the sand changes. Bulk material obtained as a result of either natural crushing or artificial. As a result, the mineral is transformed into fractions of different sizes, which are subsequently used for various purposes.

Composition and chemical and 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 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 pink color, iron is brown, pure quartz has milky shade or has no color. Yellow is usually burnt sand.

However, there are other requirements.

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 according to levels of translucency.

Quartz sand is a very hard, refractory and fireproof material, resistant to acids and alkalis, is 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 that we offer has undergone heat treatment, which is required to eliminate moisture and improve the quality of the sand.

Areas of application of quartz sand

Calcined quartz sand is used:

building mixtures, in

landscape design, in

paving slabs, in

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 significantly higher - the firing process allows you to thoroughly clean quartz sand from impurities, including clay and gravel, after which the sand is sieved 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 work, fine-grained quartz sand is usually used. In many countries, dry sandblasting is prohibited due to high risks, but in Russia this process requires the use of a cleaning suit and careful adherence to safety precautions. In addition, hydrotreating is used - supplying abrasives under running water, which is safer.

For dry construction mixtures they are used different kinds quartz sand, both small and large. The latter are in demand in the manufacture decorative plaster and other decorative mixtures.

In landscape design and urban improvement, quartz sand is used for sprinkling paths, creating 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 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.

Regular quartz sand white also actively used for landscape design, designers love to use it as a covering for paths. You've probably seen colored coarse-grained sand in souvenir shops and aquarium shops; fine- and medium-grained sand is also used for purifiers and filters, including for swimming pools. Quartz flour is used in glass production, in the foundry industry and in many other industries.

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 quartz sand is becoming increasingly popular every day. What is it?

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

Table of use of quartz sand depending on the fraction.

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. 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.

Quartz sand - unique material, which has a wide range of applications. Depending on the factions, it is used in decorative purposes(from wall decoration to decorating aquariums), for sprinkling sports fields and paths on summer cottages, when arranging work premises, etc.

Often quartz sand is used to remove metal corrosion, in the production of paints, enamels and varnishes, in the manufacture of molds for the foundry industry, for the braking system of railway trains, etc.

It is not so easy to buy quartz sand from enterprises that extract it. However, there is a way out of this - make the material yourself based on clean river sand. It is sifted through a fine sieve to sift out clay, or a coarse sieve to remove debris. Afterwards it is cleaned from iron oxide by washing with water and a solution of hydrochloric acid. The same composition will also remove clay residues. In conclusion quartz sand is washed clean water (ideally using a Gresley and Ruga machine) and dry it by placing it on an oven, in the sun, etc.

Quartz sand obtained in this way is no different high quality. It can be used, for example, for filling voids in shielded rooms. However, in other cases it is better to purchase quality material from specialized companies.

Natural quartz in crushed form, quartz sand, is indispensable in industry and various fields of construction. It is considered one of the purest and most highly homogeneous types of foundry sand. The article highlights the characteristics of this inorganic mineral and the areas in which it is in demand.

By location

River is the cleanest. The price of this quartz sand is higher than all other types of material.
Marine - its small grains of sand are mixed with clay and silt particles. Doesn't use it like that in great demand, like its river “brother”.
Gully - fractions are characterized by a sharp angular shape with a rough surface. The total mass of the material contains impurities of silt and earth. Concrete and plaster solutions are produced using gully sand.
Mountain - the grains have the same shape as the elements of gully sand.
Pogrebnoy (soil). The mineral is hidden by a layer of soil and clay. These are fractions of a sharp angular shape with a rough surface. Among other types of sand, it is the most suitable material for construction.

By extraction method

Natural (rounded) sand is the result of the destruction of quartz rocks due to the direct influence of water, wind and other natural phenomena. Rounded sand is called rounded sand because of the round and smooth shape of the quartz grains.

Artificial (crushed) sand - obtained by crushing quartz veins. Quartz rock is blasted, thus extracting mineral elements of different sizes and irregular, often acute-angled shapes, which are divided into fractions. Artificial sand compares favorably with its monominerality (contains about 98% silicon oxide IV), homogeneous mass (does not contain organic impurities), and a sufficient threshold of resistance to the influence of factors of a chemical and mechanical nature.

According to the shape and size of the grain

By grain size:

Fine sand – grain size ranges from 0.05 mm to 0.25 mm.
Medium sand – from 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
Large – no less than 0.5 and no more than 3 mm.

By grain shape:

Rounded.
Semicircular.
Acute angular.

Colored quartz sand

The mineral is painted by treating it with a special coating using epoxy and polyurethane resins. The result is an environmentally friendly substance with a wide range of applications.

Properties of colored quartz sand

It adequately withstands chemical “attacks” - it is not susceptible to solvents.
Not afraid of mechanical distortion and abrasion.
Does not fade from exposure to sunlight.

Application areas of colored sand

Used in the creation of cast marble stones.
Added to the composition of the polymer floor covering.
Included in decorative plaster.
Present in the composition of road flooring, which reduces slipping.
Involved in landscape work.
It is actively used as a decorative element in zoology, aquariums and gardening.
Found application in children's and handmade art.

Distinctive properties and qualities of quartz sand

Quartz sand is a substance whose positive feature is strong granules that are well resistant to mechanical, natural and chemical destructive effects.
Pure quartz sand consists of 99% silica. The composition of the crude material is rich in various impurities: oxides of ferrum, manganese and potassium, carbonates, feldspar, clay, and some precious metals. They color the grains of sand in yellow and reddish-brown shades. Purified quartz sand is a white material with a milky tint.
Among other positive properties of this substance:

monomineral substance with a uniform consistency;
has high intergranular porosity;
has high dirt holding capacity and good sorption properties;
the material can be painted in any shades and colors;
chemically inert - does not react with other substances;
has good flowability;
serves for a long time - grains of sand are almost not subject to abrasion;
used for brake structures of locomotives and railway cars;
takes part in removing metal corrosion.

Brands of quartz sand

Each type of molding quartz sand is marked. It is expressed by the following articles: class - number of the middle sieve of the main fraction - belonging to the category. In practice, it looks like this: grade 2KO63A indicates the concentration of the grain composition of natural quartz sand of class 2K, category A. All grades and quality designations of quartz sand contain GOST 2138-84.

Extraction and processing of quartz sand

The bottom of rivers and flooded channels are the territory for extracting this type of sand by hydromechanical excavation. The material is also obtained by open-pit mining.
The next process is enrichment, during which the extracted material is thoroughly washed and cleaned of various impurities. This labor-intensive and costly process is a prerequisite for preparing sand for its future use in various areas human activity.
Then the quartz sand is dried at 800°C and divided into fractions using a screen screen:

sand - a mixture of grain elements measuring 0.1 - 0.4 mm;
coarse sand - particle size is 0.5 - 1.0 mm;
quartz flour - has a size less than 0.1 mm;
Quartz chips are grains with a size of 1 mm or more.

Areas of application of quartz sand

The good sorption properties of this type of sand have made it an indispensable material for the operation of purifying water filters, for filtration systems that purify water in swimming pools.
Mostly crushed quartz sand is loaded into the filters - it has a low bulk density and good porosity. Such indicators make it possible not only to filter a large volume of water, but also improve its quality. Rounded quartz sand is washed out faster than crushed sand.

The durability of the material and its immunity to factors of various origins explain the widespread use of quartz sand in the production of cement, decorative and finishing elements, and asphalt; use in plastering facades and interior spaces, for decorative design work. High homogeneity indicators make it possible to add sand to dry mixes, concrete and polymer concrete, and use it in sandblasting as a bulk substance.

In construction, all material parameters are given great importance. For example, the density of quartz sand in loose form is 1500 kg/m3, but can increase to 1700 kg/m3. A substance with this density indicator has higher hygienic characteristics- This is clean, dry quartz sand, which can be used in the process of home renovation.

Quartz sand is used in the manufacture of glass, earthenware and porcelain, fiberglass, enamel, paint and varnish products, and in the foundry industry.

As an arc-extinguishing element, the material is suitable for creating electrical fuses. In sawing stone and in the process of grinding lenses, quartz sand is used for the abrasive qualities of sand. Quartz sand is associated with the production of steel and refractory products. Another area where quartz sand is very popular is landscape design.

Dry quartz sand in the form of a substrate has found application in creating helicopter pads, landscaping areas for stadiums, tennis courts, football fields and running tracks.
The most in an original way uses quartz sand industry Catering— Coffee is prepared on the sand.

Filtration capacity

Quartz sand is used for filters 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 higher 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 is almost always used for a swimming pool, artificial pond or lake, or rather, for their filtration system. 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, in the creation of polyurethane and epoxy floors. In this case, it must have a coarse-grained fraction. The use of this material in the manufacture of plaster is due to its high chemical resistance, mechanical resistance to crushing and abrasion, as well as color stability. Small fractions are well suited for sandblasting work on 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 water wells, as a feed for poultry, and also as a filler for electrical insulators and, recently, it can be found in aquarium and landscape design.

Production

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

Features of application

The appearance of ready-to-use quartz sand is preceded by several operations, including purification of raw materials from impurities, drying, fractionation, dosing and packaging. At the same time, the importance of the fraction for this material should not be underestimated, because in certain industries (for example, in glass production) it plays a key role. Another important criterion that characterizes quartz sand is its lack of a chemical reaction. This applies, first of all, to construction, because after hardening of cement mortars or concrete, undesirable consequences may occur.