Silica

SILICA The name Silica covers a range of minerals composed of silicon and oxygen, the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust. Silica exists in ten different crystalline forms. By far the most common of these is quartz. It is hard, chemically inert and has a high melting point. Silica is sold as sand and processed for multiple uses. Glass is made from pure quartz silica because of its transparency or translucency. The Egyptians discovered these properties thousands of years ago, but there are many other applications for silica, from building materials to the precious silicon chip, produced from high purity quartz and extremely fine cristobalite sand. Professional footballers and golfers also benefit from better playing surfaces thanks to silica sand root-zone products. Main Applications : Paints & plastics Ceramics Glass Filtration Sports & leisure Construction Sealants & adhesives Chemicals Foundry Oilfield Metallurgical applications Agriculture