Quality Requirements of Quartz Sand in the Building Industry

Abstract

Quartz sand is a valuable raw material for the building and construction industry. Individual branches demand very different sand qualities. The requirements of the following products are discussed: autoclaved aerated concrete, calcium silicate units, cement, clay bricks and roof tiles, concrete, mortar and render. Not only very pure sand qualities with >98 wt% SiO2 are required, some applications need only 95, 88 or 70 wt% SiO2. The requirements for the individual uses are, however, strict. New market developments and changes in legislature force the construction industry to improve its products. These developments cause modifications in the production process as well as new requirements to the raw materials used. Consequently, traditional branches may have to change their raw material deposits. There is a strong need for data concerning the chemical and granulometrical composition of near surface sand deposits.