A Study on the Potential of Local Silica Sand for the Production of Coloured Glass

Abstract:

There are abundant silica sand resources in Malaysia, however many have not yet been fully discovered. The primary component used in the production of glass is silica sand. The objective of this research was to determine whether local silica sand might be used to make coloured glass. The chemical composition and mineralogy of silica sand were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The physical properties such as particle size distribution were determined by using a mechanical shaker whereas grain morphology was identified by using a digital microscope. Additional equally significant properties such as moisture content, clay content, pH value and the specific gravity of silica sand were also measured by using standard laboratory testing method. The obtained results were compared to Malaysian Standard MS 701:2017, the standard specification for the production of coloured glass. From XRF analysis, the silica sand contained silicon dioxide at a concentration of 97.84%, alumina at 0.56%, iron oxide at 0.12% as well as several other oxides at around 1.5%. XRD diffractogram also revealed that quartz is a major constituent having the highest peaks at about 26.7° with an intensity of 13,7786. More than 95% of the particle sizes of the silica sand are in the size range from 150 µm to 1000 µm and in the category of fine sand and coarse sand. The grain shape was determined to be angular, and the silica sand had a moisture content of 2.54%, a clay content of 7.80%, a pH value of 5.93, and a specific gravity of 2.63. Based on the chemical and physical properties, it appears that this particular silica sand satisfies the standard requirements for coloured glass production.

• Periodical: Engineering Headway (Volume 15)
• Pages: 71-77
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-iV4KZI
• Online since: January 2025
• Authors: Nabihah Othman*, Mohd Idham Mustaffar, Syarifah Aminah Ismail, Mohd Hakim Ibrahim
• Keywords: Chemical Property, Coloured Glass, Morphology, Physical Property, Silica Sand

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