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Silica or silicon dioxide sio2 is one of the most abundant minerals in the earth, which is in the family of silicate minerals. This oxide compound forms a large part of the earth’s crust and many mines in Iran are working to extract it. Silica, which is a white chemical compound, is obtained from the reaction of silicon and oxygen and is widely used in the water treatment industry and other industries. Asaish Afza Ayman will continue to introduce this valuable mineral and will refer to things such as physical and chemical characteristics, applications, as well as the price and how to buy silica and silica powder in different granularities.
What is silica?
Silica or silicon dioxide makes up about 59% of the earth’s crust and is also known by names such as silicon oxide and silica and is grouped based on the size of the grains and degree of purity. The diversity in the group of minerals is very large and in general it can be said that any type of mineral that contains sio2 in their structure is called silica.
What is silica powder?
Silica has many variations in terms of particle size, and according to the desired application, the appropriate option can be chosen. In some industries, silica with very small sizes is needed and it is pulverized with a stone machine. Silica powder is most widely used in the production of casting molds and the construction of furnace bodies, and it is rarely used for water purification.
What is edible silica?
In addition to industry, silica has also been widely used in food and pharmaceutical production, and of course there are differences in their chemical and physical characteristics. Industrial silicas are very harmful for the health of the body, and the type of food is completely different from these products. One of the most important features and properties of edible silicas is the improvement of the body’s immune system.
The structure of silica
In the structure of silica, there are 4 free poles, and for this reason, the power of reactivity is at a high level. The model and structure of these materials are presented based on the Lewis model and are four-sided.
Silica granulation
One of the most important factors in choosing and buying silicon dioxide is the size of the grains and their diameter. Based on this, 4 widely used grading groups are provided for this mod, which are:
Silica with a grain size of 5-8 mm
Silica with a grain size of 3 to 5 mm
Silicon dioxide with a grain size of 2 to 3 mm
Silicon dioxide with a granularity of one to two millimeters
Types of silica (silicon dioxide)
Silica extracted from mines has different types based on its composition and mineral structure, and each has different uses. Among the minerals of the silicate family, the following options can be mentioned:
Quartz: Quartz stone is a combination of sio4 in which each silicon is connected with 4 oxygens and has a rhombic structure. These stones are polymorphs of silica and have a very high hardness. It should be noted that quartz is the second most common mineral in the earth’s crust after feldspar.
Flint: It is a combination of quartz boulevards and their color is light brown and in some cases gray. Flints are from the silica family that have been deposited in the deep sea. These stones are also known as flint or fire.
In addition to the mineral structure, these stones can be divided into different groups based on the degree of purity, which also affect their price and use. According to the purity and impurities in these minerals, they can be divided into premium, first and second grade and amorphous silica. As it is known, the premium type has the highest degree of purity and is mostly used to produce glass wool and glaze ceramic tiles.
First grade silicas are used in water filtration as well as sandblasting and casting due to the amount of impurities in them. The second-grade type of these stones is used in making bricks and lime sand, and their degree of impurity is higher than the two premium and first-grade types.
Application of silica in water purification
One of the main uses of silica in the water treatment industry is that it has a high effect on removing pollutants and suspended particles in water. Among the applications of these stones, the following options can be mentioned:
Silica in resin hardener
The removal of heavy metal ions in water such as calcium and magnesium, which leads to an increase in water hardness, is done in different ways, including resin hardeners. In resin hardening, due to the volatility of resin grains, they are placed on a silica bed. In addition to preventing the escape and disintegration of the resin layer, the passage of water from layer to layer of silica grains leads to the separation of suspended particles in water, and it will not be possible for them to pass through fine silica particles.
Silica in sand filter
Other uses of these minerals include their use in sand filters. A sand filter is a type of tank that consists of inlet and outlet valves, and a filter and nozzle covered with sand and silica grains are placed inside it. The passage of water over the sandy bed makes it impossible for suspended particles and pollutants to pass through this bed, and high quality water is discharged from the outlet valves. Due to the fact that the continuous use of the sand filter eventually leads to the accumulation of a large mass of polluting particles on the sand bed, for this reason, they are cleaned in different ways, such as reverse washing of silica grains.
The use of silica in making ceramics and tiles
Due to the high resistance of silica grains against impact and heat, they are widely used in the production of ceramics. For example, one of the most important uses of silica in making ceramics and tiles is to make their surfaces vitrified. After melting, these grains become completely transparent and glassy and can be used as a glaze. In addition to the unique appearance, these materials play an effective role in making the ceramic surface resistant to impact and pressure and temperature fluctuations.
The use of silica in the production of tile adhesive
Special adhesives are used to connect ceramic tiles in the interior and different surfaces. These adhesives have very high adhesive strength and resistance, and the possibility of moisture penetration is low in them. For this reason, the tiles and ceramics are well connected to the desired surface and it is not possible to separate them with rain and snow. Silica is widely used in the production of tile adhesive and leads to an increase in adhesive strength.
The use of silica in the production of sand-lime bricks
The high resistance of silica grains to impact and their melting temperature of 1470 degrees Celsius are two important reasons for using silica in the production of sand-lime bricks. The use of these materials in the production of bricks makes the facade of the building highly resistant to fire and the bricks are completely non-combustible. It should also be noted that the acidic substances present in the rain in polluted cities etc. cannot have a negative effect on the quality of these bricks.
Application of silica in concrete and cement
Silica has a low expansion range and its adhesion strength is also at a high level. For this reason, these materials are used in grouting and construction of bridges and water channels. So that the rise and fall of temperature does not have a negative effect on concrete and will not lead to cracks and breaks in them. It should also be mentioned that silica prevents the corrosion of the reinforcements used in the building by concrete and cement and leads to an increase in the strength of the building and its lifespan.
Application of silicon dioxide in casting industry
As mentioned, silica has a very high resistance to temperature increase and no effect is caused on its structure up to 1470 degrees Celsius. For this reason, silica is used in the casting industry to produce the main mold. In addition, these minerals are also used in the production of casting furnaces and their quality is at a very high level.
The use of silica in the glass industry
The main raw material used in the production of glass is silica. After heating, silica is melted in special furnaces and turns into a transparent and colorless substance. These materials are placed in special molds and finally transformed into the desired shape with air pressure. With this process, all kinds of glass containers and glasses used for construction and so on are produced. Silica in the glass industry must have a high degree of purity, otherwise the color of the glass will be dull and poor quality.
Application of silica in sandblasting
Sandblasting is called scratching on glass or metal surfaces, which will lead to its matting. Among other cases, silica is used in glass and metal sandblasting. The very small grains of these minerals hit the desired surface with high pressure and make it opaque after creating a scratch.
The price of silicon (silicon oxide)
There are many factors influencing the price of silica, the most important of which is the degree of purity. The more impurities in the structure of these minerals, the cheaper their price will be. In addition, the size of these particles can also affect their final price. Among the common sizes of silica particles used in various industries, 2.5 to 20 mm can be mentioned. It should also be noted that some samples of silica are imported, which are heavily affected by currency fluctuations and have a higher price than the domestic type. You can contact Asaish Afza Ayman experts to inquire about the price.
Kilo and wholesale silica sales
According to the differences in the granulation and physical and chemical characteristics of silica, Asaish Afza Ayman provides a variety of these products and offers them in bulk and by the kilo. It should be noted that Asaish Afza Ayman experts provide free consultation in the silica sales process and provide comprehensive information for the customer to know about each product. For more information, you can contact Ayman Ayman experts.
Buying silica (silicon dioxide)
The efficiency and effectiveness of silicon dioxide substrates are influenced by many things such as the size of the particles as well as their degree of purity. For this reason, it is necessary to choose and buy suitable options according to the type of application. Asaish Afza Ayman experts provide free consultation before buying silica and provide silica with the highest degree of purity and quality for sale in bulk.
Asayesh Afza Imen Company started its activity in the 70s with the aim of providing engineering consulting services in the construction and operation of water and wastewater treatment systems. This group operates by taking possession of the world’s technical knowledge and relying on new engineering technologies in the field of design, construction, installation and commissioning of water (industrial, domestic, swimming pool) and sewage systems.
Design: Mahyan
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