Refractory Sands & Flours
Ceramic Shell Materials for Investment Casting
Peneq supplies a comprehensive range of refractory sands and flours for the production of high-quality ceramic shell molds in investment casting. Our materials are suitable for both primary (face coat) and backup slurry applications and are compatible with a wide range of casting alloys.
When selecting a refractory material, key factors include:
- High thermal resistance
- Controlled thermal expansion
- Excellent thermal conductivity
- Stable compatibility with binder systems
- Consistent particle size distribution
- Efficient mixing and slurry performance
With high-quality refractory solutions and technical expertise, Peneq helps manufacturers produce durable ceramic shells and achieve superior casting quality.
Cobalt Aluminate
Cobalt Aluminate is a premium refractory additive used in primary ceramic shell slurries to enhance the grain structure of investment castings, particularly superalloys. Manufactured for excellent thermal stability, it is widely used in aerospace and other high-performance casting applications.
Key Benefits
- Produces a finer grain structure in cast components
- Promotes grain refinement throughout the casting
- Creates a uniform network of nucleation sites
- Minimizes migration of low-melting-point metals
- Fully calcined for superior thermal stability
- Easily disperses in water-based slurry systems
- Manufactured to meet aerospace industry standards
- Trusted by leading OEMs worldwide
Approvals: Qualified to PMC-7022 (Pratt & Whitney) and CSS25 (Rolls-Royce) specifications.
QuikBuild® Refractories
QuikBuild® Refractories are specially engineered refractory flour blends designed to maximize the performance of REMASOL® QuikBuild™ binder systems. Their optimized particle size distribution helps build thicker ceramic shell layers, improving shell strength and increasing production efficiency.
Available in two grades:
- QuikBuild F – Fused Silica
- QuikBuild A – Aluminosilicate
These refractory blends are ideal for foundries seeking faster shell build-up, improved productivity, and consistent ceramic shell performance.
Fused & Tabular Alumina Refractories
Peneq supplies high-purity alumina refractories for investment casting applications, delivering excellent durability, thermal resistance, and chemical stability for high-performance ceramic shell systems.
White Fused Alumina
White Fused Alumina (White Corundum) is a high-purity refractory material designed for precision investment casting. It offers:
- High refractoriness
- Excellent resistance to chemical attack
- Consistent performance in demanding casting applications
Tabular Alumina
Tabular Alumina is a high-density, low-soda alumina refractory developed for high-temperature ceramic shell systems. Its key advantages include:
- Low porosity
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Superior thermal shock resistance
- High mechanical strength
- Exceptional hardness and wear resistance
Tabular Alumina is an ideal choice for producing durable ceramic shells in high-temperature and demanding investment casting environments.
Premium Quality Zircon Sand
Peneq supplies premium-quality zircon sand for investment casting, providing exceptional purity and consistency for high-performance ceramic shell production. Carefully processed to remove impurities and reduce moisture content, this material delivers reliable performance in demanding foundry applications.
Key Features & Benefits
- High-purity, rounded-grain zircon sand
- Cleaned to remove dirt and ultrafine particles
- Calcined for reduced moisture and volatile content
- Typical AFS Grain Fineness: 105–107
- Excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance
- Available in Standard and Premium grades
- Ideal for high-quality primary ceramic shell applications
Zircon Refractory Flour & Sand
Peneq supplies premium zircon refractory flour and sand for investment casting, offering excellent thermal stability, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality. Carefully processed through drying, milling, screening, and magnetic separation, these materials provide consistent physical and chemical properties for demanding ceramic shell applications.
Key Features & Benefits
- Very low reactivity, ideal for primary coat slurries
- Low thermal expansion with predictable dimensional performance
- High solids loading capability
- Excellent mechanical strength
- Fine particle sizes for superior surface finish
- Outstanding slurry rheology and stability
- Available in fully calcined and partially calcined grades
These zircon materials are widely used in aerospace, directionally solidified, single-crystal, commercial, and art casting applications where premium casting quality is required.
Milled Zircon Flour
Peneq Milled Zircon Flour is produced from fully calcined zircon sand and is available in multiple particle sizes to suit different slurry formulations. It is ideal for investment casting slurries, zircon mold cores, mold facings, and refractory wash formulations.
Zircon Sand
Peneq Zircon Sand is primarily used as a primary stucco material for ceramic shell molds and is also suitable for mold facings, zircon cores, shell mold production, and refractory coating applications.
EZ-CAST® CPS Fused Silica
EZ-CAST® CPS Fused Silica is a high-performance refractory system designed to accelerate ceramic shell build-up in investment casting. Its optimized formulation enables thicker shell layers with each dip, reducing the total number of coats required and improving overall production efficiency.
Key Features & Benefits
- Faster shell build with fewer coating cycles
- Produces thicker and more uniform ceramic shells
- Higher green and hot shell strength
- Ready-to-use, single-component system
- No blending of refractory flours required
- Improves shell room productivity and process consistency
- Ideal for high-efficiency investment casting operations
Aluminosilicate Refractory Flour & Sand
REMASIL® is Peneq’s premium range of aluminosilicate refractory flours and sands, developed for high-performance investment casting. Available in two grades—REMASIL® 48 and REMASIL® 60—these materials provide excellent refractoriness, high-temperature stability, and improved shell strength while offering a cost-effective alternative for ceramic shell production.
The carefully controlled particle size distribution ensures excellent permeability, improved intercoat adhesion, and consistent shell quality.
REMASIL® 48 – Key Benefits
- Excellent refractoriness and thermal stability
- Easy shell knockout
- Cost-effective for a wide range of casting applications
REMASIL® 60 – Key Benefits
- Higher alumina content for increased refractoriness
- Superior high-temperature stability
- Ideal for large and complex castings
- Outstanding dimensional stability for precision applications