enbarro Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Hi, Anyone knows if ultrox is still in production? Or if Superpax and Zircopax plus are the same thing? How do they all compare? My local store is out of Zircopax plus, so I need to order it... Uspigments doesn't sell it. They sell Zircopax which I thought was out of production. Ultrox is cheaper which is good, but I'm not sure if its still being made either. I rather stick to materials that are going to be available in the future and minimize glaze testing. Any help advice will be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I use zircopax as an opacifier in glazes. I usually use 10%. I have heard that for Superpax, you would only require 5% as it is a stronger opacifier. I have not used Ultrox, I have always used zirco. I hope I can still get it. Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I use zircopax and have used superpax-I never changed recipes because of it. Zircopax is what Laguna Clay sells I know know zero about Ultrox Zircopax has been around for a long time and thats my best guess for the future as well. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I could be dead wrong but isn't superpax a finer mesh size of zircopax? Last time I went to buy superpax (Seattle Pottery Supply) they didn't carry it so I bought zirco instead. I need to add a couple percent more zirco than when I had superpax. No clue about Ultrox, never used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I could be dead wrong but isn't superpax a finer mesh size of zircopax? Last time I went to buy superpax (Seattle Pottery Supply) they didn't carry it so I bought zirco instead. I need to add a couple percent more zirco than when I had superpax. No clue about Ultrox, never used it. See my post above. Two times zirco equals one superpax. Where are you located? Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I could be dead wrong but isn't superpax a finer mesh size of zircopax? Last time I went to buy superpax (Seattle Pottery Supply) they didn't carry it so I bought zirco instead. I need to add a couple percent more zirco than when I had superpax. No clue about Ultrox, never used it. See my post above. Two times zirco equals one superpax. Where are you located? Tom. Hi Tom, I didn't actually find that I needed to double the zirco, I went from 9 superpax to 11 zirco in my white base. Just like everything else I guess it all depends... I'm in BC. Min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 I have always heard that zirco and super are pretty much interchangeable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Maybe some industrious soul will run each of these through a glaze calculation software package and give us a side-by-side comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Maybe some industrious soul will run each of these through a glaze calculation software package and give us a side-by-side comparison. Good idea, should have thought of that! With Insight zircopax and superpax are identical for zirconium and silica amounts. Ultrox has the same zirconium as the above but the silica is 0.01 higher. Zircopax Plus isn't in the materials database From my go to Tony Hansen "It is often used for semi-opaqueness (finer grained materials like Superpax provide more opacity). In North America, the most popular zirconium opacifiers fall under the brand names of Zircopax Plus, Superpax, Zircosil and Excelopax. These vary according to particle size, the finer the size the greater the scattering of light (and thus the better the opacification). In addition, the finer sized materials contain a little extra silica for maximum whiteness." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enbarro Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 I found a pdf which shows that the difference between ultrox grades is the particle size. A few websites list superpax as comparable to ultrox ultra, but I'm yet to find the actual particle size of Superpax or Zircopax Plus... From your feedback, I gather that to sub one for another is pretty straight forward. With the amount of silica and whiteness being the variables to keep in mind... Thanks you all for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Zircopax plus & Superpax plus info at http://tinyurl.com/o69czpu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Zircopax and zircopaxplus is a one to one exchange - Laguna now only sells zircopacplus I think-anyway its a one to one with zircopax. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enbarro Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Thanks PeterH, I wasn't able to open the book on the link. Yes Mark C, it seems 'regular' zircopax is not available anymore... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Wondering if there might be a difference in the weight of the various materials (small mesh vs. medium mesh vs. large mesh) . . . that would preclude a 1 for 1 exchange in all instances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 >Thanks PeterH, I wasn't able to open the book on the link. No you cannot, but you should be able to read at least that page (1039) and the few following. ... or even take "snapshots" of them and print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enbarro Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 What I understand is that the particle size is what changes the whiteness... when you add more of the larger particle size Zirconium Silicate to get the same white you had with the smaller particle one you also add silica to the recipe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enbarro Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Thanks PeterH, maybe is my phone's browser the problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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