Agglomerate

Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT

Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT is an Italian-produced agglomerated marble material in the micro-grain class, with very fine, evenly distributed Bianco Carrara marble chips in a bright white polyester resin matrix. The polished panel shows a calm, finely speckled appearance with a bright white ground tone and subtle grey-brown mineral points — stylistically an allusion to the classic Italian Bianco Carrara marble from the Apuan Alps, here in the finest dotted-raster composition. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate the panels into internal floor coverings, stairs, window sills, wall claddings, vanity tops and bespoke internal components with a calm, elegant Carrara character.

Industriell hergestelltes resin-gebundenes Marmor-Agglomerat aus italienischer Produktion (Kürzel „IT" = Italien) in der Mikro-Korn-Klasse mit fein verteilten Bianco-Carrara-Marmor-Splittern (≈ 0,5–2 mm) aus den Apuanischen Alpen – kein gewachsener Naturstein. Optisch ein ruhiges Punkt-Mosaik in hellweißem Grundton mit subtilen grau-braunen Mineraleinträgen.

Agglomerate Italy

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs · 2 of 51 reserved

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About Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT

Background. “Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT” denotes an industrially manufactured agglomerated marble of Italian production (the abbreviation “IT” = Italy) based on very fine Bianco Carrara marble chips. Italy has for decades been the centre of industrial agglomerated marble production, with manufacturers such as Quarella, Santamargherita, Industria Marmi Alberti, Civet/CTX and other specialised large works in the Italian marble and ceramics district. The panels are produced in the classic Bretonstone® process or comparable vacuum vibro-compaction processes.

The natural marble aggregate. Bianco Carrara is the world's most famous Italian natural marble — a bright white-grey calcite marble from the Apuan Alps in north-western Tuscany, which since Roman antiquity has shaped buildings such as the Pantheon, Michelangelo's “David” and countless classic foyers, bathrooms and sculptures. Its range includes selections such as “Bianco Carrara C/CD” (mid-grey marbled), “Bianco Gioia” (a paler appearance) and “Calacatta” (pale special qualities with veining). In agglomerated marble, broken Bianco Carrara pieces from quarry residues are reused — a second life for the valuable natural material that makes sense both in design and in economic terms.

Material composition and manufacture. A resin-bound agglomerated marble panel consists of natural stone chips (in this selection micro-grain, 0.5–2 mm) which are laid out in a mould under vacuum with approximately 6–10 % polyester resin, mineral additives and bright white pigments, compacted with low-frequency vibration and polymerised in a curing oven. The end product is a highly densified large-format panel with a very calm, finely speckled appearance — from a middle distance the surface reads as almost single-colour bright white, while close up the fine dotted mosaic appears.

The micro-grain effect. Unlike the macro-grain selection Botticino Agglo IT (with visible 8–25 mm marble chips and a mosaic character), Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT stays markedly calmer in design terms — the fine-grained structure (≤ 2 mm) produces a homogeneous, almost textile-fine character. That makes the material particularly suitable for calm interior fit-out schemes in which the surface is not meant to be staged.

Format and fabrication. Italian agglomerated marbles are usually manufactured in large formats of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in the standard thicknesses of 2 and 3 cm. The panels can be cut, profiled, calibrated and drilled with diamond tooling like a dense marble material. Because of the polyester binder it holds that: heat resistance is markedly lower than that of pure natural stone — do not set hot pots or hairdryers down directly on the surface, and avoid sustained temperatures above about 80–90 °C. Direct UV exposure can yellow the resin over the long term — on a bright white panel such tonal shifts would be particularly visible; the material is clearly intended for internal applications.

The ROSSITTIS range. We carry Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT as a polished large-format panel with stock depth. From these we fabricate internal floors in large or tile formats, stairs with treads and risers, window sills (including special lengths in one piece up to about 3 m), wall and column claddings, vanity tops, skirtings, benches and individual furniture tops. The calm bright white tone suits classically Italian living schemes, contemporary hotel foyers, bathrooms with clean lines and rooms with pale timber, bronze, stainless steel and matt wall colours.

Comparison. Against genuine Bianco Carrara marble, the micro agglomerate shows no banded character with flowing tonal gradations or individual veins, but stays dotted, mosaic-like and even. As a calcite marble, Bianco Carrara reacts to acids with etch marks (wine, lemon, tomato); the micro agglomerate is somewhat more robust here thanks to the closed polyester matrix, but it is not fully acid-proof, because the marble chips themselves contain calcite. Against CTX BasicAgglo New Micro Carrara (the same material, a markedly cooler tonal value, a newer pigment balance), this generic Italian variant reads as somewhat warmer and creamier white in tone. Against CTX BasicAgglo Micro Sivec (based on Sivec marble), Bianco Carrara Micro is somewhat more contrasty, with more clearly visible grey-brown chips. Against engineered quartz of the same colour family (CTX BasicQuarz Frost White, 1612 Elegant White), the acid and scratch resistance of the agglomerated marble is somewhat lower — the engineered quartz is better suited to the actual kitchen work surface, the agglomerated marble more to walls, window sills, stairs and internal floors.

A frank assessment. Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT is a calm, classically Mediterranean choice for internal surfaces in which a pale Carrara character with dependable repeatability is wanted. Its strength lies in the unmistakable micro-grain appearance with genuine Bianco Carrara marble chips and in straightforward care in interior fit-out. Anyone seeking a genuinely characterful, craft-based Mediterranean natural material should turn to real Bianco Carrara marble — anyone who needs the fine, controlled Carrara effect in a large-format panel with a calm appearance is very suitably served here.

Finishes

Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Höchstmöglicher Glanz mit ausgeprägter Farbintensität — die ebene, pflegeleichteste Oberfläche im Agglomerat-Segment. Die spiegelglatte Veredelung bringt die Verbundwerkstoff-Komposition voll zur Geltung. Eine repräsentative Wahl für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und gestaltete Sichtflächen im Innenausbau.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. In everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH cleaner are sufficient. Soapy marble or dimension stone cleaners and mild general-purpose cleaners without acid are suitable. Wipe up spills — red wine, coffee, tea, juices or oil — promptly, because the resin-bound marble aggregate can pick up pigment at specific points. On the bright white surface, dark stains are particularly conspicuous, but can usually be removed with warm water and a mild cleaner if dealt with promptly.

Do not use. Limescale and bathroom cleaners, anti-limescale sprays, vinegar and citric acid, drain cleaners, WC cleaners, concrete and rust removers, highly concentrated general-purpose cleaners and chlorine-based bleaches are out of the question — they attack both the marble chips (carbonate reacts with acid) and the polyester resin, and lead to matt patches or tonal shifts. Also avoid solvent-based products (acetone, petrol, thinners, nitro cleaners).

Sealing. A classic natural stone sealer is not strictly necessary — the polyester matrix largely closes the panel. In areas with a raised risk of staining we nevertheless recommend a light, non-film-forming silane-polysiloxane stone sealer as additional protection — on a bright white panel this is particularly sensible, because dark pigment ingress would otherwise remain visible.

Kitchen. Polished surfaces tolerate short-term kitchen loading, but are not thermally capable: trivets for hot pots, pans and baking trays are essential. Use chopping boards — the material is hard, but polyester resin can go matt at knife marks over time. Wipe up grease and acid stains (tomato, lemon, wine) immediately. For the actual kitchen work surface with daily acid exposure we recommend alternative materials (CTX BasicQuarz Frost White, engineered quartz or porcelain).

Bathroom. Well usable in the bathroom (vanity tops, wall cladding). Consistently avoid acidic care products and limescale-dissolving sprays, because they leave visible shadows on calcite and marble aggregates. In the shower area, wipe standing water away promptly so that a limescale film does not build up.

Floors and stairs. The classic domain of Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT is large-format internal floors, stairs and entrance areas. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page. Dirt-trapping mats at the entrance markedly reduce the ingress of scratching particles.

Outdoors and frost. Not suitable for external construction. UV radiation yellows the resin over the long term — particularly clearly visible on a bright white panel. Freeze-thaw cycles can lead to micro-defects. It is also not to be recommended permanently in fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

Scratches and repair. Surface scratches on the polished variant can be repolished by a stonemason; deeper damage can be made good with tinted polyester filler and worked in to match the colour. Since the material is industrially mixed, colour-accurate repairs are usually well achievable.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT?

It is a resin-bound agglomerated marble of Italian production (the abbreviation “IT” = Italy) in the micro-grain class (≈ 0.5–2 mm). Natural stone chips of white Bianco Carrara marble (Apuan Alps, Tuscany) are compacted into large-format panels with approximately 6–10 % polyester resin and bright white pigments in a vacuum compaction process. The end product is not a grown natural stone but an industrial material with a Carrara marble character.

What does the name “Bianco Carrara” refer to?

Bianco Carrara is the world's most famous Italian natural marble — a bright white-grey calcite marble from the Apuan Alps in north-western Tuscany, quarried since Roman antiquity. The material has shaped classic buildings such as the Pantheon, Michelangelo's “David” and countless foyers, bathrooms and sculptures.

What does “micro-grain” mean in agglomerated marble?

Agglomerated marbles are produced in several grain size classes: micro (≈ 0.5–2 mm), standard (≈ 3–7 mm) and macro (8–25 mm). Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT is a micro-grain selection with a very finely speckled character — considerably calmer than the macro-grain selections with clearly visible marble chips.

How does Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT differ from genuine Bianco Carrara marble?

Natural stone Bianco Carrara shows a banded character with flowing tonal gradations and individual veins. The micro agglomerate stays dotted, mosaic-like and even. Both react to acids, the agglomerate somewhat more robustly because of the polyester binding.

What panel formats and thicknesses are usual?

Italian agglomerated marbles are manufactured in the standard format of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in thicknesses of 2 and 3 cm. From these we fabricate internal floors, stairs, window sills, wall claddings, vanity tops, skirtings and individual furniture tops.

Is Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT suitable for kitchen worktops?

With reservations. As with all agglomerated marbles, the carbonate chips react to strong acids (wine, lemon, vinegar, cola, tomato) and the polyester resin to direct heat above 80–90 °C. With trivets, chopping boards and a silane sealer, use on bar counters is practicable; for the actual kitchen work surface we recommend more acid-proof alternatives (CTX BasicQuarz, engineered quartz or porcelain).

Is the material suitable for external surfaces?

No. Polyester binders yellow under UV radiation — particularly clearly visible on a bright white panel. Bianco (Micro) Carrara Agglo IT is conceived as an internal material.

Which cleaners may I use?

Warm water, neutral to slightly alkaline stone care products and mild general-purpose cleaners without acid are permitted. Vinegar, citric and hydrochloric acid, limescale cleaners, anti-limescale sprays, concrete and rust removers, chlorine-based bleaches and solvents such as acetone or thinners are out of the question.