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OPTICAST

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Investment Casting

Engineered for Investment Casting Excellence

Unlock precision, consistency, and performance — made in the USA.

OPTICAST™ is a high-performance ceramic casting media engineered to replace zircon and fused silica in investment casting applications. Manufactured in the USA, OPTICAST delivers superior thermal stability, controlled particle size distribution, and exceptional dimensional precision — all with a reliable domestic supply chain and predictable pricing.

Unlike naturally mined materials such as zircon, OPTICAST is a manufactured ceramic media composed of refined aluminum oxide. This ensures a chemically inert, non-reactive, and consistent composition, eliminating impurities that cause reactivity and casting variability. Foundries benefit from greater permeability, lower thermal expansion, and improved surface finishes, resulting in reduced scrap, faster cleaning times, and more precise final parts.

Designed to perform under extreme heat, OPTICAST withstands high-temperature pours exceeding 1,525°C, maintaining structural integrity for complex and thin-walled components. Its low linear thermal expansion minimizes expansion-induced defects, while its high refractoriness and hardness ensure superior performance and dimensional stability across metal types.

Available in both flour and stucco (primary) sands, the OPTICAST product line offers tailored solutions for every stage of the investment casting process. With a proven track record of delivering zircon-level performance at a fraction of the cost, OPTICAST gives foundries the reliability, repeatability, and value they need to stay competitive.

BENEFITS

Why Choose OPTICAST

  • Lower Cleaning Time & Higher Throughput

    Thanks to its surface characteristics, OPTICAST minimizes adhesion and buildup on cast parts, significantly cutting down cleaning time. This results in smoother operations and increases overall productivity.

  • Durable, Recyclable, and Cost-Efficient

    OPTICAST’s robust ceramic composition resists particle breakdown even under high thermal and mechanical stress. This durability allows for multiple reuses, contributing to lower total media consumption and cost savings over time.

  • Chemically Inert & Crystalline Silica-Free

    OPTICAST is non-hazardous, free of crystalline silica, and chemically stable, making it safer for operators and more environmentally responsible. It also ensures compatibility with a wide range of metals, binders, and resins​

  • Lower Cleaning Time & Higher Throughput

    Thanks to its surface characteristics, OPTICAST minimizes adhesion and buildup on cast parts, significantly cutting down cleaning time. This results in smoother operations and increases overall productivity.

  • Durable, Recyclable, and Cost-Efficient

    OPTICAST’s robust ceramic composition resists particle breakdown even under high thermal and mechanical stress. This durability allows for multiple reuses, contributing to lower total media consumption and cost savings over time.

  • Chemically Inert & Crystalline Silica-Free

    OPTICAST is non-hazardous, free of crystalline silica, and chemically stable, making it safer for operators and more environmentally responsible. It also ensures compatibility with a wide range of metals, binders, and resins​

FEATURES

Advanced Attributes
of OPTICAST

  • High Refractoriness for Demanding Pours

    OPTICAST ceramic media is engineered to handle high pouring temperatures and prolonged heat loads without structural degradation. This makes it ideal for casting a wide range of metals, including those that require extreme thermal resilience.

  • Precision Through Low Thermal Expansion

    With its exceptionally low linear thermal expansion, OPTICAST helps eliminate common issues such as veining, penetration, and burn-on. This translates into cleaner castings, tighter tolerances, and the ability to produce more intricate and thin-walled components​.

  • Consistent Permeability & Optimized Porosity

    The uniform shape and size of OPTICAST particles maximize porosity, allowing gases to escape more efficiently. This reliable permeability reduces the risk of gas-related defects and improves casting quality—especially important for complex geometries and detailed surfaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More about OPTICAST

  • Is OPTICAST safe to use in foundries from a health and environmental standpoint?

    Absolutely. OPTICAST is chemically inert and free from crystalline silica, making it a non-hazardous material. This significantly reduces health risks for operators and lowers environmental compliance concerns, providing a safer and more sustainable alternative to conventional casting sands​.