Zircon is widely used in the foundry industry mainly for casting and refractory applications. Zircon’s properties make it ideal for use in sand casting, investment casting and as a mould coating in die casting processes. It is also used in refractory paints and washes to reduce wettability of other foundry sands.
The properties that make zircon a valuable material for the foundry industry also make it an attractive choice for the refractory industry, which is one of its core applications.
Refractories are materials that are designed to maintain strength, dimensional stability and chemical resistance at high temperature. These are typically made from alumina, magnesia, clays, binders and zircon or zirconia.