The maximum temperature for sand depends on the context, but generally, sand can withstand temperatures up to 800-1000 °C before significant changes occur. Beyond this, it begins to exhibit an increasing tendency to form stronger agglomerates, and eventually, it transitions into glass around 1200 °C.
Here's a breakdown:
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800-1000 °C: This range is the practical upper limit for using desert sand as a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) material. While it doesn't melt immediately, higher temperatures within this range increase the likelihood of clumping.
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1200 °C: At this temperature, the glass transition temperature is reached. Sand, primarily composed of silica (SiO2), begins to transform into glass. It ceases to be sand in its familiar granular form.
Therefore, while silica, the main component of sand, has a much higher melting point, the functional maximum temperature for sand, considering its behavior and desired properties, is significantly lower.
In summary, the "maximum temperature" depends on what you want the sand to do. If you want it to remain sand-like, keep it below 1000°C. If you want to make glass, heat it to around 1200°C.
