Chromite Sand Uses as a refractory facing sand in steel & iron foundries
Chromite Sand is a naturally occurring spinel consisting primarily of the oxides of chrome and iron. It is a by-product of ferro-chrome production and is mainly used in foundry applications and in glass production.
It is used as a highly fireproof sharpener for moulds and cores. Originally from South Africa. The sand is produced by crushing chrome ore and its washing in spiral concentrators, subsequent drying, dust cleaning, screening and sorting as per grain size.
Chromite Sand is an Iron chromium oxide that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust.
This industrially essential mineral is used to produce metallic chromium, that is further used to produce Stainless and Tool Steel.
The high heat stability property of this material makes it an essential refractory material.
The chromium can be extracted from chromite.
This is majorly utilized in super alloys production, chrome plating, as a pigment for products, like paint and glass, and as an oxidizing agent for tanning leather. India is amongst the top Chrome ore producing countries.
Chemical Composition
Item | Unit | Index |
Cr2O3 | % | ≥46.0% |
SiO2 | % | ≤1.0% |
FeO | % | ≤26.5% |
CaO | % | ≤0.30% |
MgO | % | ≤10.0% |
Al2O3 | % | ≤15.5% |
P | % | ≤0.003% |
S | % | ≤0.003% |
Cr/Fe | 1.55:1 |
Physical Properties
Bulk Density | g/cm³ | 2.5-3 |
Color | / | Black |
PH | / | 7-9 |
The amount of the acid | / | ≤ 2 ML |
Percent soil | % | ≤0.1 |
Percent Moisture | % | ≤0.1 |
The sintered | ℃ | 1600 |
Percentage of free acid present in the sand | % | 0 |
Naturally occurring spinel called Chromite Sand encompasses iron and chrome oxides. Chromite Sand can be identified by dark grey color and granular form. Possessing certain properties, it is used as core and mould making sand in grey iron and steel foundries. It has good chilling properties due to its high thermal conductivity. The dimensional stability can be assured due to low thermal expansion. Chromite Sand finds its major use in steel production as a well filler that protects sliding gates in steel holding ladles. As a fine flour, it is also used in manufacturing green glass beverage containers.
Characteristics of chromite sand:
Chromite sand is a product processed by natural chromite ore through crushing and sieving.
Application
Chromite Sand in the foundry industry
- Its properties enable the material to be used in high duty grey iron and steel foundries as core and mould making sand.
- Its high thermal conductivity gives it good chilling properties, low thermal expansion gives rise to good dimensional stability.
- Its basicity being close to neutral allows the use of a wide range of resin bonding systems and inorganic binders, it has a high refractoriness and a broad sieve distribution.
- Chromite Sand in the steel industry
- In steel production, Chromite Sand is used as well filler for protection of the sliding gate in large steel holding ladles.
- Chromite Sand in the glass industry
- When ground to a fine flour, Chromite Sand is used for the production of green glass beverage containers.
