White sand and products made from sand (glasses, glass products)
Silica white sand, also known as industrial sand, is a high purity sand, made up of two main elements, silicon and oxygen. Its high silica and oxygen content gives it a range of unique properties that make it well-suited to a large number of applications. One of the applications of white silica sand is the production of glass and glass. In this article, we will look at why silica white sand is such an important part of glass and glass production and the role it plays in the process..
Why high quality silica white sand is used in the production of glass, glass?
Silica white sand is the main source of silicon dioxide needed in the production of glass and glass. To be suitable for glass production, the composition of sand must have a very high percentage of silicon (over 95%). That is why most sand mines are not pure enough to make glass.
It is estimated that industrial sand that meets the extremely high physical and chemical requirements of the glass industry accounts for less than 1% of the 50 billion tons of sand mined annually. The reason for these strict requirements is that the purity of the sand directly affects the transparency, strength and durability of the glass.
For example, only glass products manufactured with high-quality silica white sand can meet the requirements for optimal visibility for a vehicle's windshield. Likewise, only building glass made with high quality silica white sand can meet light or heat transmission specifications without compromising strength and safety..
Properties of silica sand and its suitability for glass, glass production
To be suitable for use in glass production, silica must be chemically pure (contains more than 95% silicon dioxide) and be of suitable size (with particle size from 0.075 mm to 1.18 mm) and color. .
These high-level requirements mean that only sand deposits from specific sources are suitable for use in the glass industry. That includes lakes, rivers, fossil beaches and wind deposits. Exploiting it also requires high skill and capacity on behalf of the supplier.
How is glass made?
High-quality silica white sand accounts for about three-quarters of the raw material used in the glassmaking process. The remaining quarter is made up of soda, limestone and clarifiers along with a proportion of recycled glass. The following is the production process of flat glass, which is usually produced with silica sand.
- Batch – Key ingredients, including silica sand, limestone, soda and recycled glass, are weighed and sorted in batches.
- Melting – Raw materials are mixed in batches into kilns that reach temperatures up to 1600°C and become molten.
- Floating – The molten glass is then 'floated' on a bath of molten tin and pulled through rolling mills to flatten.
- Cooling – The molten glass leaves the molten tin bath and is cooled to 600°C. It passes through rollers and can be cut and machined in a predictable manner.
The grain size of sand grains is an important factor in glass production, as too coarse particles may not melt efficiently in the furnace and may lead to defects in the final product. On the other hand, particles that are too fine can be sucked into the furnace airflow and lost.
Another important factor in this process is the chemistry of the sand, with the iron oxides, chromium and other metals required to produce the different colors of the glass. All are strictly controlled to ensure the sand meets the requirements of glass manufacturers and end consumers.
Buy high quality silica white sand from Hoa Binh transport
Glass is unique in that it can be completely recycled over and over again. However, high quality silica white sand is always needed to keep the kiln running. At Hoa Binh transport, you can purchase premium round to round silica white sand with packaging and shipping options to suit you..