Ceramic sand sounds like such a strange product. Yet when you understand that ceramic products come from sand and glass, it kind of makes sense. Moreover, a gritty, rolled-ball product that is kiln-fired for durability helps you understand how this kind of "sand" is a ceramic product and not technically a sand product. If you are the really curious type, you probably now want to know what ceramic sand is used for. The following three applications of ceramic and sand and what this product does in each example should help you understand.

Fracking

Fracking is the process whereby hard items are used to split pieces off from something else. Typically, fracking companies are trying to "frack" rock, or create oil wells. To do that, they need the ceramic sand. The ceramic sand acts as the instrument to split hard rock and dig tunnels through rock. Hydraulic pressure is used in conjunction with the ceramic sand to get faster, cleaner results. In and of itself, fracking is not a horrible thing. It just has to be done carefully and with the environment in mind. 

Foundry Molds

In foundries where metals and plastics are poured into molds, ceramic sand is used as a buffer material in the lining of the molds. The ceramic nature of these pebbles/grains holds in heat so that the molds cool slowly and do not split or crack from cooling too quickly. The ceramic sand also buffs out the rough edges of the molded material so there is less sanding, cutting, and trimming after the molded material has fully cooled and is removed from the mold.

Hardening Clay Soil

There are some states where a lot of the soil is clay. Underneath the first foot of dirt, these states have red or gray squishy clay, created naturally but a hassle nonetheless. This type of soil makes it difficult to build and keep things steady above ground. The ceramic sand, then, is injected into this soil to make the clay below harder and more compact. The ceramic sand is entirely natural and will not hurt the surrounding environment. The open spaces around each grain of ceramic sand still allow water to flow through, but not as much as before. This means that the clay soil becomes more compact while remaining semi-porous, and anything built on top of this soil will have a firmer foundation and will not sink as much.

For more information on ceramic sand, contact a company like Hawthorn Industries.