Is a higher SiO₂ level always better?

It depends on the application. The SiO₂ level shows the chemical purity of the sand and high purity is mandatory in glass, refractory and some chemical applications. But in filtration, blasting or construction work a 96% level does the job, and paying for higher purity is unnecessary cost. The right question is not "which is highest" but "what does my process require".

Are SiO₂ level and whiteness the same thing?

No — they are related but different values. SiO₂ expresses the quartz content, whiteness the colour you actually see. Whiteness is mainly governed by the iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) content: even with a high SiO₂ level, sand looks yellowish if iron is high.

What makes up the remaining percentage?

The part outside SiO₂ consists mainly of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), alkali oxides and calcium-magnesium compounds. Which of these matters depends on the application: iron is critical in glass, alkali content in refractories.

Which of your products has which purity?

Our product family includes grades above 96%, above 98% and above 99% SiO₂. Each product page publishes its own technical values; tell us your requirement and we will share the appropriate grade together with the chemical analysis of that batch.

Can I see the analysis report before ordering?

Yes. We send the chemical analysis values together with your sample request, and at shipment the analysis of the dispatched batch is shared.

Choosing Silica Sand SiO₂ Level | 96%, 98%, 99%

What Does the SiO₂ Level Tell You?

The SiO₂ (silicon dioxide) level shows how much quartz the sand contains. The higher the percentage, the purer the sand, the more chemically stable and the more heat resistant it is. This stability, which comes from the high SiO₂ content, is the basic reason silica sand is used so widely in industry.

However, not every application requires the highest purity. Cost rises with purity: choosing a higher grade than needed wastes budget, choosing a lower one causes problems in production.

The Grades and What They Mean in Practice

Our product family covers three purity levels:

Above 96% SiO₂: filtration, blasting, construction and landscaping — applications where chemical purity is not decisive and mechanical strength and grading come first.
Above 98% SiO₂: foundry, construction chemicals, precast and epoxy — applications that expect both strength and chemical stability. This is the grade with the widest field of use.
Above 99% SiO₂: glass, refractory, ceramics and chemical applications requiring high purity.

Three Questions That Determine the Choice

1. Is the sand exposed to high temperature? In processes such as glass, refractory and casting, impurities directly affect melting behaviour and strength; purity is critical.

2. Does colour matter? If a white or colourless result is expected, the value to look at is not SiO₂ but the iron oxide level. We covered this in a separate article: Why Does Fe₂O₃ Matter?

3. Does the sand work in a chemical environment? In water treatment and chemical applications the sand must not dissolve or contaminate the medium. In filter products this behaviour is guaranteed by the TS EN 12904 standard.

Purity Alone Is Not Enough

Even with the right SiO₂ level, the result will not be what you want if the grading is wrong. In a filter, the grain distribution governs pressure loss; in casting, the AFS value governs surface quality. Purity and grain size must therefore be chosen together — neither substitutes for the other.

Let Us Determine the Grade You Need

Share your process and your expectation, and we will recommend a suitable purity grade and send a sample together with the chemical analysis values. You can reach us through the contact form.

Related pages:

How to Choose the SiO₂ Level: The Difference Between 96%, 98% and 99%

What Does the SiO₂ Level Tell You?

The Grades and What They Mean in Practice

Three Questions That Determine the Choice

Purity Alone Is Not Enough

Let Us Determine the Grade You Need

Would You Like More Information?