Silica sand is usually a form of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is composed of two main elements – silica and oxygen.
Silica sand has certain standards and must contain at least 95% silica and equal to 0.6% iron oxide, otherwise it is considered ordinary sand.
Other sand here refers to regular sand or regular construction sand, usually brown in color and used for concrete applications. They also contain some silica, but only up to 80%, and other minerals such as iron, potassium, carbonates and other trace elements.
The presence of these minerals makes the sand regular and darker in color compared to silica sand. Ordinary sand (non-silica sand) comes in pink, black, green and other colors, depending on the sand deposition conditions in different geological locations.
1. glass
2. Sports fields and golf courses
3. Calcium silicate bricks
When making calcium silicate bricks, silica sand is mixed with high-calcium lime, with a sand-to-ash ratio of 10 or 20. These bricks have good regularity, smooth surfaces and sharp corners and are available in a variety of strengths.
Calcium silicate bricks have similar durability to concrete but are not resistant to sulfur-containing environments. Learn more about types of building bricks.
4. Water filtration
5. Metal casting and production
Silica sand is an important component in industrial production of steel, ferrous and non-ferrous castings, used for deoxidation and grain refinement.
6. Paints and Coatings
7. Construction
It is a major ingredient in a variety of building and construction products. To improve durability and structural integrity, whole-grain silica is used in flooring, mortars, specialty cements, roof tiles, asphalt mixtures, anti-skid surfaces and other industrial materials. It acts as a functional extender to increase the durability, corrosion protection and weather resistance of sealants, caulks, and epoxy-based compounds.
8. Ceramics and Refractories
9.Industrial abrasives
10.Other applications
In oil and gas recovery processes, silica sand is known as fracking sand. It is pumped downhole in deep well applications to increase the flow rate of petroleum or natural oil, and its chemical purity helps resist chemical attack in corrosion-resistant environments.