Silica
Silica Sand is quartz that over time, through the work of water and wind, has been broken down into tiny granules, and silica/quartz is the second most abundant minerals in Earth’s continental crust, after feldspar. Quartz is hard, chemically-inert and has high melting point, attributable to the strength of the bonds between the atoms. Silica sand is widely applied in glass, foundry, filtration, ceramics, electronic, paint and coating, etc.
Our silica flour is produced from precise iron-free grinding of high purity silica sand. By unique grinding technique, our product portfolio ranges from ceramic grades to filler grades with median particle sizes as fine as 2 µm. It has a wide range of application including ceramic, adhesive, paint and coating, rubber and plastic etc.
Foundry
For foundry application, silica sand has high melting point and low rate of thermal expansion, and that is essential to produce stable cores and molds compatible with all pouring temperatures and alloy systems. Our silica sand has high silica content that helps to prevent interaction with catalysts or chemical binders; in addition, our silica sands are round or sub-round in shape, and that improves the strength of molds. Finally, we are able to customize the particle size distribution to accommodate customers’ needs. We supply wide range of different sizes of silica sand, ranging from AFS 10, 12, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 100.
Glass
For glass application, silica sand is the primarily raw materials of all types of standard and specialty glass. Our silica sand has high silica content, and particle size is very suitable for glass manufacturing. We have been processing silica sand for glass application for over 15 years, and we are able to lower iron content to as low as 150ppm.
Construction & Filtration
For construction application, silica sand (often called industrial sand when used for this purpose) is the main structural component in a number of construction products. Flooring, mortars, cement, roofing shingles, asphalt, and other industrial materials all use silica to improve durability and structural integrity. As silica is resistant to weather, wear and corrosion, it is often used as a caulk or sealant.
Ceramic
In ceramic application, silica flour is an essential component in the formulations of all type of ceramic products including body, glaze, porcelain, enamels and frits, and the advantages for its application are listed as followings,
- Works as skeletal structure to fuse body with fluxing oxides
- Increases whiteness and hardness
- Increases casting rate
- Helps controlling thermal expansion
- Helps regulating drying and shrinkage
Filler
For filler application, silica flour is used as functional filler in a wide range of applications such as adhesive & sealants, plants and coatings, and plastics, and it offers the following benefits:
- High brightness
- High scratch resistance and resistance to abrasion (Mohs Hardness 7.0)
- High chemical inertness and stability
- Low electrical conductivity
- Improves dispersion and dimensional stability and scratch resistance
- Low oil absorption, which in turn results in low viscosity even at high loading