4 Major Problems of Machine-Made Sand

The demand for manufactured sand is growing daily. To address key concerns regarding the characteristics, processing technology, and development trends of machine-made sand, we present insights from industry experts.

Question 1: Is there a regulation defining what constitutes machine-made sand?

Machine-made sand is also known as crushed sand, artificial sand, or M-sand. The term “machine-made sand” refers to its production process; alternatively, it can be defined by particle size distribution and maximum particle size. While specific requirements depend on local technical specifications, generally, the particle size of manufactured sand should be less than 5mm.

Question 2: What are the characteristics of high-quality machine-made sand?

Two key characteristics determine the quality of manufactured sand. First, the sand must meet end-use requirements. To ensure this, we evaluate metrics such as gradation curves and particle shape. Gradation curves indicate the proportion of material within specific particle size classes, while shape is assessed by analyzing the aspect ratio of individual particles and determining the percentage of oversized material. Sand quality is also indirectly measured using a flow cone device to assess fluidity and porosity.

We can then adjust the crusher and shaker to ensure gradation requirements are met. When designing and proposing machine-made sand production plans, we also consider the specific needs of end-users. Additionally, the raw material must not be alkali-reactive rock; otherwise, it can cause concrete cracking, leading to steel bar corrosion and loss of concrete strength properties, thereby shortening the service life of concrete structures.

Question 3: What is the difference between wet processing and dry processing of manufactured sand?

Wet processing requires water and consumes a considerable amount. If the material itself has high moisture content, wet production is necessary. Another reason to use wet equipment is that the material may contain impurities such as clay, which can reduce the quality characteristics of concrete; however, in most cases, these impurities can be effectively removed by washing.

If dry processing technology is designed for materials, equipment such as dry screening and air classification can be used for fine powder classification. The benefit of dry processing is that it does not require water and provides better control over ultrafine particles. At the same time, ultrafine powder can be collected into a silo for later use when needed. This process is not easily accomplished using wet processing.

Machine-made sand is a reasonable substitute for natural sand, so its consumption is growing rapidly. If you want to know more about machine-made sand, please leave us a message.