Engineered zircon for ceramics, refractories, and foundry coatings.
OPTES Group manufactures its own range of zircon solutions in Egypt using advanced German machinery and Spanish processing technology, with selected Egyptian zircon ore as feedstock. The range is engineered for ceramic, refractory, and foundry coating applications, delivering controlled particle size distribution, consistent quality, and reliable process performance.
OPTES manufactures four zircon products, each engineered for a specific particle size range, application requirement, and industrial process.
PRODUCT RANGE| Product | Particle Size | Primary Application | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIRCOPTES ULTRAFINE — Micronized zircon | 5 μm | High-end ceramic glazes for sanitary ware and ceramic tile industries | Engineered for applications requiring fine dispersion, maximum whiteness, opacity development, and smooth ceramic surface finish. |
| ZIRCOPTES FLOUR — Precision-ground zircon flour | 45 μm | Ceramic frits industry | Formulated for ceramic frit production where controlled particle size, process compatibility, and consistent zircon performance are required. |
| THERMACAST FLOUR — High-refractory zircon flour | 63 μm; ZrO₂ >65% | Refractory and foundry coating industries | Designed for applications requiring thermal stability, chemical inertness, coating suspension, and resistance to metal penetration. |
| ABYAD WHITENERS — Custom-formulated whitener compositions | Confirmed per order | Ceramic tile glazes and engobes | Engineered to enhance brightness, opacity, and visual coverage in ceramic glaze and engobe systems according to application requirements. |
ZrO₂ >65% is confirmed and published only for THERMACAST FLOUR.
Zircon grade selection depends on particle size, glaze or coating formulation, whiteness target, opacity requirement, suspension behavior, thermal stability, and final surface quality. ZIRCOPTES ULTRAFINE is selected where very fine particle size, whiteness, and surface smoothness are required in ceramic glazes; ZIRCOPTES FLOUR is formulated for ceramic frit production; THERMACAST FLOUR is selected for refractory and foundry coating systems; and ABYAD WHITENERS are used where targeted brightness and opacity enhancement are required in glazes and engobes.
OPTES manufactures four branded zircon solutions in Egypt: ZIRCOPTES ULTRAFINE, ZIRCOPTES FLOUR, THERMACAST FLOUR, and ABYAD WHITENERS. The range covers micronized zircon for high-end ceramic glazes, precision-ground zircon flour for ceramic frits, high-refractory zircon flour for foundry and refractory coatings, and custom-formulated whitener compositions for ceramic glazes and engobes. Each product is engineered according to target particle size, application requirements, and process performance.
OPTES zircon solutions are manufactured in Egypt using advanced German machinery and Spanish processing technology, with selected Egyptian zircon ore as feedstock. The manufacturing process is focused on controlled grinding, particle size distribution, product consistency, and application suitability. This allows OPTES to serve ceramic, refractory, and foundry coating industries with locally manufactured zircon solutions.
THERMACAST FLOUR is a high-refractory zircon flour with a particle size of 63 μm and confirmed ZrO₂ content above 65%. Its zirconia content, thermal stability, chemical inertness, and resistance to metal penetration make it suitable for refractory systems and foundry mold coating applications. The controlled particle size supports coating suspension, surface coverage, and thermal barrier performance during casting.
ZIRCOPTES ULTRAFINE is a 5 μm micronized zircon grade designed for high-end ceramic glazes where whiteness, opacity, smooth surface finish, and fine dispersion are critical. ZIRCOPTES FLOUR is a 45 μm precision-ground zircon flour formulated for ceramic frit production, where controlled particle size and process compatibility are required. The main difference is particle fineness, which affects dispersion behavior, glaze surface quality, opacity development, and suitability for the final ceramic process.
ABYAD WHITENERS are custom-formulated whitener compositions engineered to enhance brightness and opacity in ceramic tile glazes and engobes. They are selected where the ceramic surface requires improved whiteness, visual coverage, and controlled glaze appearance. Final grade selection should be based on glaze formulation, firing cycle, opacity target, surface finish requirement, and confirmed technical specifications.
The correct zircon grade should be selected according to particle size, whiteness requirement, ZrO₂ content, glaze or coating formulation, firing temperature, suspension behavior, and final surface quality target. Fine zircon grades are typically preferred where high opacity, smooth surface finish, and strong dispersion are required, while coarser refractory zircon flour is selected where thermal stability and resistance to metal penetration are more important. OPTES can support customers in matching the suitable zircon grade to ceramic, refractory, or foundry coating applications.
Let our zircon experts help you select the optimal grade for your ceramic, refractory, or foundry coating application.
