Background. Caesarstone® is the Israeli premium brand for surface materials, founded in 1987 in Kibbutz Sdot Yam and present worldwide today. The manufacturer's range contains three clearly separated product lines: the historic Quartz Surfaces line of engineered quartz (around 90 % quartz particles + 7 – 10 % polyester resin), the Mineral™ line launched in 2024 as a low-silicosis further development, and the Lioli Porcelain line of fully mineral, through-sintered large-format porcelain. Black Tempal ICON (code 5810) belongs to the Quartz Surfaces line – that is Caesarstone's classic engineered quartz material. The addition “ICON” denotes the premium tier within the Quartz Surfaces line, with particularly high-grade, dramatic natural stone look designs.
Material build-up and manufacture. A Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces slab consists of around 90 % natural quartz granulate and around 7 – 10 % polyester resin with incorporated pigments. The mixture is pressed into slabs by the Bretonstone® process (vacuum vibro-compaction under vacuum) and then cured. From this follow the typical engineered quartz properties: non-porous (a sealed surface), scratch-resistant (through the high quartz content), resistant to cutting, with high compressive and flexural strength. Important: unlike with porcelain, the polyester resin matrix remains sensitive to temperature – maximum short-term heat approx. 150 – 160 °C; hot pots should consistently be used with trivets. Classic polyester engineered quartz is NOT UV-stable and is therefore laid out for interior applications.
The Black Tempal ICON version. The ground tone is a deep black to anthracite material black with subtle warm undertones – not the hard “coal black” solid black, but a warmer-reading mineral, deep black. Across the surface run characteristic horizontal light grey to creamy honed lines and layered structures that give the slab the “Tempal” appearance from which it takes its name – stylistically an allusion to dark slate grades with a finely layered sedimentary look, or to volcanic Pietra Lavica stones. The linear figure is typically irregular and flowing for the material, with individual more powerful accent bands and many finer lines of layering. Occasional lighter mineral points are distributed subtly across the surface. From a medium distance the surface reads as dramatically dark with subtle horizontal movement; close up, the fine pigmented depth of the lines of layering becomes apparent.
Formats and thicknesses. Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces supplies the slabs in the standard format. ROSSITTIS carries Black Tempal ICON in 20 mm thickness (standard for kitchen worktops and heavily loaded floor applications).
Technical properties. Standard engineered quartz values for Caesarstone ICON: bulk density about 2,300 – 2,500 kg/m³, compressive strength approx. 200 – 250 MPa, flexural strength 50 – 70 MPa, water absorption < 0.02 % (virtually zero), Mohs hardness approx. 7 (through the high quartz content). The slab is non-porous (sealed), scratch-resistant, resistant to cutting and resistant to weak household acids (vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato) – strongly concentrated acids or alkaline industrial cleaners can locally dissolve the resin matrix. Heat resistance: 150 – 160 °C on a dry surface, no hot pots set down directly, trivets obligatory. Important: NOT UV-stable – the polyester resin matrix can yellow under direct sunlight outdoors, which is why Black Tempal ICON is laid out for interior applications.
Guarantee. Caesarstone grants the “Caesarstone Forever” lifetime factory warranty for interior applications – an industry-standard premium warranty promise. The warranty expressly excludes exterior applications.
ROSSITTIS range. We carry Black Tempal ICON with the satin-honed standard surface in stock depth, in 20 mm thickness; further finishes from the Caesarstone programme are available on request. From the slabs we produce kitchen worktops, islands, bar counters, buffet and furniture tops, vanity units, wall claddings, bathroom fit-outs (wall and floor applications, showers with proper waterproofing), window sills, skirtings and interior floors in protected areas.
Comparison. Within the Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces ICON line, Black Tempal positions itself as the dark, mineral slate-look grade with a characteristic layered impression. Related black Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces grades comprise various tonal versions in the ICON line. In competitive comparison with other engineered quartz brands (Silestone, Compac, Diresco), Caesarstone ICON offers an established premium level with the “Caesarstone Forever” warranty. Compared with classic black natural stone such as Nero Assoluto Brazil, Black Tempal ICON is more decorative and mineral, with a fluid slate impression – Nero Assoluto remains granular and homogeneously black, is more acid-resistant (natural stone) and is suitable outdoors. Compared with porcelain in a dark slate look (Caesarstone Lioli, Laminam Ardesia), Black Tempal remains engineered quartz with the heat limitation typical of polyester (160 °C).
An honest assessment. Black Tempal ICON is the ideal choice for any interior application calling for a dark, mineral slate-look impression with characteristic horizontal layering. The grade works particularly strongly as a statement kitchen worktop and island in modern, elegant kitchen concepts, as a bar counter, as a wall cladding in dark, elegant living spaces and as a furniture top in luxurious interiors. Anyone who needs a fully heat-resistant surface (setting hot pots down directly) should switch to a porcelain such as Caesarstone Lioli, Laminam Ardesia or Optimum Surfaces; anyone planning exterior applications should reach for UV-stable Beach line engineered quartz or porcelain; anyone wanting a calm, structureless premium black should switch to solid black engineered quartzes or to Nero Assoluto natural stone.
