Is it possible to produce artificial sand from limestone?

Vietnam possesses huge limestone resources, spread across the provinces of the North and North Central regions. Creating ideal conditions for the development of the construction materials industry.

However, can limestone replace natural sand in artificial sand production or not is still a big question for many businesses. As the demand for construction is increasing. Taking advantage of available resources to create artificial sand not only is it an economic solution but it also helps reduce pressure on the environment.

Limestone resources in Vietnam – Great advantage but not yet optimally exploited

According to Institute of Construction Materials – Ministry of Construction, the whole country has about 190 limestone mines with total reserves of up to 22 billion tons. Most of these mines are concentrated in Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Quang Binh. These areas are major cement and construction material production centers of Vietnam.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock rich in calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), has a hardness of 80 – 120 MPa. Formed from the remains of marine organisms and the process of mineral precipitation over millions of years. Limestone has many different colors: white, gray, light blue, black... depending on the accompanying impurities. Compared to other types of rocks such as granite or basalt. Limestone has lower hardness, is easy to mine and process. However, this characteristic also poses challenges when used to produce artificial sand.

Can limestone be a source of raw materials for the production of artificial sand?

Artificial sand is produced based on strict standards of grain ratio, fineness and hardness to ensure concrete quality. According to standards TCVN 9205:2012, artificial sand must meet the requirements of uniform grain size. Ensure reasonable fine grain ratio and hardness suitable for each type of construction structure.

Requirements for artificial sand

With medium hardness, limestone can meet the basic standards for producing artificial sand. However, when crushed, this type of rock tends to produce a large amount of fine particles (< 0.075mm). Causes many consequences on concrete quality and production efficiency. If there is no appropriate treatment solution. Too much fine powder can reduce the bearing capacity of concrete. At the same time, it causes clogging of the concrete pumping system and increases the cost of dust treatment during the production process.

Rounded sand grains will produce concrete with better hardness. In addition, it reduces wear in the pipe system and for the pumps of concrete pumps. Limestone with hardness from 800 – 1200 kg/cm2 (80 – 120 MPa). With such hardness, artificial sand from limestone can ensure hardness for the production of concrete.

Not only that, another issue of concern is the formation of negative cracks in sand grains. When using hammer or impact crushers, strong impacts can create micro-cracks inside the sand grains. This affects the bearing capacity of the concrete. Therefore, choosing the right crushing technology plays a decisive role in the efficiency of producing artificial sand from limestone.

Barriers that prevent limestone-based artificial sand from becoming popular

Despite the abundant resources, the production of artificial sand from limestone still faces some major challenges. First is the issue of output. Because the amount of fine particles produced is greater than that of other types of stone. The rate of finished sand obtained is lower, reducing economic efficiency. This requires businesses to calculate carefully. It is necessary to balance output and production costs.

Another obstacle is the bearing capacity of crushed lime sand. With not too high hardness, artificial sand from limestone is usually only suitable for normal concrete works. It cannot completely replace basalt or granite sand in projects requiring high load-bearing capacity. Therefore, businesses need to clearly define the purpose of use to make reasonable investment decisions.

What technological solutions help optimize the production of artificial sand from limestone?

To overcome the above limitations, choosing the right crushing technology is the key factor. Currently, the two main technologies used in the production of artificial sand from limestone are the sand cone crusher and the vertical shaft impact crusher (VSI).

Cone crusher is the ideal choice when you want to control the amount of fine powder and optimize the output. This technology helps to create sand with high sharpness. Suitable for normal concrete without generating too many fine particles. Thanks to that, businesses can minimize dust treatment costs and improve grinding efficiency.

Meanwhile, VSI crusher is the optimal solution when it comes to producing round-grained sand. It meets higher standards for concrete quality. However, this technology also comes with a significant challenge. The amount of fine powder produced is greater, requiring an efficient processing and screening system. Therefore, when investing in a VSI machine, businesses need to consider factors such as operating costs and the accompanying dust treatment system.

Which company is leading in providing artificial sand making machines in Vietnam?

In today's market, Terex is one of the world's leading brands in the field of artificial sand making machines. With nearly 200 years of experience, the company has developed many lines of sand cone crushers and VSI. Helps optimize the production process and minimize the disadvantages of artificial sand from limestone.

In Vietnam, Nguyen Vinh is an official distributor of Terex. We have installed more than 35 artificial sand crushing plant nationwide. With a capacity of 150 - 1500 tons/hour. Thanks to a team of specialized technicians and professional after-sales service, Nguyen Vinh is committed to providing the most optimal solutions for businesses in the mining and construction materials industry.

Is it really possible to produce artificial sand from limestone?

The answer is Have, but on condition that the enterprise must choose the appropriate crushing technology. And have an effective solution to handle the amount of fine particles. Limestone can become an important source of raw materials for the production of artificial sand. This helps reduce the pressure on natural sand mining. Protect the environment and optimize production costs.

However, to ensure economic efficiency, businesses need to invest in modern grinding systems. Choose a reasonable operating model and control the quality of output sand.

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