Zircon sand
Zircon, also known as zirconium silicate (ZrSiO 4), is found in ancient mineral placers. Zircon comes in the form of crystal sand, usually brown, but it can also range from colorless to golden yellow, from pink and red to blue and green.
Mineral sand deposits are formed along the ancient coastline, in which the heavier minerals are concentrated by the action of waves and wind. Most of the zircon sand is mined in Australia and the African continent, and the current global annual output exceeds one million tons. The mining of ore can be either dry mining or wet mining (dredge) mining.
The main use of zircon sand is to convert it into flour, sunscreen, fused zirconia, zirconium chemicals, chemical zirconia and metallic zirconium. Zircon sand is used directly in foundry applications, refractory materials and other secondary applications.
Chemicals Composition & Physical Property
Zircon Sand |
Chemical Specifications |
|
ZrO2+HfO2 |
Fe2O3 |
TiO2 |
ZRS-A |
≥66 |
≤0.10 |
≤0.15 |
ZRS-B |
≥65 |
≤0.10 |
≤0.15 |
ZRS-C |
≥65 |
≤0.15 |
≤0.30 |
ZRS-D |
≥63 |
/ |
/ |
Zircon sand application
Zircon sand is extremely resistant to high temperatures, with a melting point of 2750. And resistant to acid corrosion. 80% of the world is directly used in the foundry industry, ceramics, glass industry and refractory material manufacturing. A small amount is used in ferroalloy, pharmaceutical, paint, leather, abrasive, chemical and nuclear industries. Very little is used for smelting metal zirconium.
Advantages of zircon sand
Zircon sand is used in the production of refractory materials, foundry sand, precision enamelware and glass, metal and zirconium compounds. It can make zircon bricks, zircon bricks, ramming materials and castables for steel drums with glass furnaces.