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Colored sand is widely used in decorative coatings, flooring systems, roofing materials and landscaping where uniformity in color is critical. One of the greatest challenges for manufacturers of colored sand is the control of color consistency from batch to batch and over time. Hebei Hezhen Industrial Co., Ltd. specializes in the crushing, processing and sale of minerals and other non-metallic products, including colored sand. With over 60 engineers and college educated staff, the company takes advantage of both its technical expertise and its rich local mineral resources to produce high-quality colored sand that has reliable color consistency for a variety of applications.
Raw Material Selection and Base Color Control
A consistent final color tone depends heavily on the base raw material used to produce the colored sand. The most commonly used raw materials for colored sand include quartz sand and marble. Each base color will influence the final shade after coloration. Hebei Hezhen Industrial Co., Ltd. sources its raw material from consistent mineral deposits that have been verified for their color and component composition. Incoming raw material shipments are individually inspected visually and analytically tested for brightness, purity, color shade, and particle size. A consistent baseline is used for production in each batch.
Deviations in the base raw material will affect color shades, so that if the raw material changes, the coloration parameters must be readjusted—which can compromise batch consistency. In 2003 our company established our factory and has built the processes that provide our colored sand with the consistency that our customers expect over the past nearly two decades.
Pigment Selection and Uniform Dispersion
Proper selection of pigments is also an important factor in achieving the desired consistency in color. Inconsistent dispersion is a major factor in producing variations in color tone between different batches. This means that the pigments are not evenly distributed over the colored sand. In order to control this factor, Hebei Hezhen Industrial Co., Ltd. utilizes advanced processing equipment to fully disperse all the pigments throughout the coloring process. The pigments are first pre-dispersed in a liquid carrier to prepare for their mixing with the colored sand, and the coloring, mixing times, speeds and temperatures are tightly regulated. In our own laboratory, we use a spectrophotometer to measure and ensure color consistency. Every production batch is compared to a master color reference, and any variation will trigger an adjustment of the color parameters in that particular batch.
Process Control During Coating and Curing
During the coloring process the color shade is locked in place. Inconsistent coating amounts, inadequate drying temperatures, and uneven curing are all factors that can affect the final color shade. Thicker layers will look darker and a longer curing time may be too long and affect the shade, as can inadequate drying which could allow the pigment to move and settle, causing a non-uniform shade of the color. We employ a stringent management system to monitor the coloring process. This multi-layer control process monitors everything from the application rate of the coloring product to the temperature used during curing and drying. These measurements are constantly monitored and adjusted to ensure the batch is processed uniformly.
Post-Production Blending and Quality Verification
After the initial batch is processed, minor color variations between individual batches are minimized through post-production blending. All finished color sand is moved into large silos where it is mixed with other batches that are produced in the same coloring process. This blending step effectively averages out minor color variations between batches, and results in a more uniform overall final color tone. A sample is then taken and analyzed to confirm that it meets quality standards under the correct lighting conditions. Only after it passes all quality control tests and checks is it then packaged and ready for shipment.
Conclusion
By employing careful raw material selection, precise pigment dispersion control, detailed process management, and post-production blending techniques, Hebei Hezhen Industrial Co., Ltd. is able to provide its customers with high quality colored sand of consistently reliable color shades. Domestic and foreign customers are welcome to our company to negotiate trade, sincerely cooperate, and seek common development. Contact us to discuss your application and request color sand samples for your project.
