Zircon Alternative Strategies from Remet

March 1, 2012 – There is no single product that can replace zircon in all applications. That's why, since 2006, Remet has worked closely with its customers to reduce or eliminate zircon sand and flour usage in their process. Remet has presented key papers to the precision investment casting community at ICI Conferences on reducing zircon sand usage [P-55] in 2006 and strategies to manage zircon usage [P-59] in 2011.

We encourage you to contact our technical team to discuss your specific needs in reducing or eliminating zircon. They will work with you to understand your process needs and develop an appropriate zircon reduction/elimination strategy. We consider the alloys being poured, metal and mold temperatures, and casting configuration to determine what will work for you. Current options to zircon that help you manage today's difficult market situation include:

Zircon Sand Alternatives

Zircon sand is typically easier to convert compared with zircon flour. Our Remasil® 60 RG100 aluminosilicate is a proven alternative for casting a variety of metal alloys. Other options are available from Remet.

Zircon Flour Alternatives

Dilution
Diluting the zircon flour in your slurry with either RP-1 fused silica or Remasil® 60 RP325CG provides the facecoat performance you need while reducing overall slurry system costs.

Elimination
Remasil® 60 RP325CG can be used with Remasol® brand colloidal binders to eliminate zircon from your process.

Other alternative flours like tabular alumina and fused white alumina will have a reduced slurry life with conventional, high pH colloidal silica binders but will exhibit excellent slurry life with Ludox® SK colloidal silica.

Zircon Flour Conservation

If your casting process requires the use of zircon, Ludox® SK is a pH independent binder that greatly extends the life of your primary zircon slurry to help eliminate wasted material. Longer slurry life means less zircon going into the trash.

Whether your needs are for zircon replacement, dilution and/or a long-life binder to maximize slurry life, contact your local Remet Territory Manager or sales@remet.com to begin this important discussion. You can't afford to wait.

P-55 Reducing Zircon Sand Usage, by Manuel Guerra, Jr. Presented at the 54th Investment Casting Institute Technical Conference & Expo, October 2006. Milwaukee, WI

P-59 Strategies to Manage Zircon Usage During Times of Market Upheaval, Manuel Guerra Jr., Frank Tistle, and John Siedlecki. Presented at the 58th ICI Technical Conference and Equipment Expo, October 2011. Cincinnati, OH.