CTX BasicQuarz® 0719 Frozen Lava

Material build-up and manufacture. Engineered quartz (“quartz engineered stone”) consists of around 90 – 93 % natural quartz granulate (screened by grain size) and around 7 – 10 % polyester resin with incorporated pigments. The mixture is pressed into slabs in the Bretonstone® process (vacuum vibro-compaction under vacuum) and then cured. From this arise the typical engineered quartz properties: non-porous (sealed surface), scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, with high compressive and flexural strength. Important: unlike porcelain, the polyester resin matrix remains sensitive to temperature – maximum short-term heat approx. 150 – 160 °C, and hot pots should consistently be used with trivets in order to avoid thermal stress cracks.

Appearance. The base tone is a creamy bright white to light beige dimension-stone white with subtle warm undertones. Across the surface are distributed characteristic powerful irregular darker greenish grey to dark grey-brown veins that run like cracks through a solidified light lava layer or through a cracked sheet of ice – the defining design feature of this variant. The veining is irregular as is typical of the material and not strictly linear, with individual powerful diagonal veins and finer branchings that run through the whole slab appearance in a net-like manner. Here and there, subtle light grey cement-like lightenings appear between the veins, giving the slab additional variation in depth. Stylistically, Frozen Lava is an allusion to frozen light lava (the phenomenon of light volcanic melt solidified under vacuum) or to a classically dramatic marble breccia with calcite crack veins. From a medium distance the surface appears dramatic and animated with a high-contrast light-and-dark effect; from close up one discovers the fine pigmented depth of the vein runs.

Technical properties. Standard engineered quartz values: bulk density around 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, cut-resistant, acid-proof against weak household acids (vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato) – highly 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: classic engineered quartz is NOT UV-stable – the polyester resin matrix can yellow under direct sunlight outdoors, which is why Frozen Lava is designed for internal applications.

ROSSITTIS range. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From the slabs we fabricate statement kitchen worktops, islands, bar counters, buffet and furniture panels, vanity tops, wall claddings with bookmatch mirroring, bathroom fit-outs (wall and floor tiles, showers with proper waterproofing), window sills, skirtings and internal floors in protected areas.

Comparison. Within the CTX BasicQuarz programme line, 0719 Frozen Lava positions itself as the dramatically veined, light dimension-stone-like variant with unusual crack veining. Related CTX BasicQuarz variants comprise further tonal variants and visual lines (marble look, solid colour, concrete look). Compared with classic engineered quartz brands (Caesarstone, Silestone, Compac, the classic Diresco lines), CTX BasicQuarz® offers attractive terms at comparable technical quality. Compared with UV-stable external engineered quartz such as the Diresco Beach line, Frozen Lava is a classic internal engineered quartz; compared with porcelain (Laminam, Neolith, Dekton, CTX BasicKeramik), engineered quartz is warmer to the touch, limited in heat resistance by the typical polyester component and not suitable for external use. Stylistically, Frozen Lava is an unusual variant with an independent character — related dramatic marble breccia looks at other brands would be, for example, some Calacatta Vagli quotations or Cristallo-quartzite-inspired engineered quartz.

Frank assessment. Frozen Lava is the ideal choice for any interior application calling for a dramatic, statement-oriented light dimension-stone effect with powerful vein runs. The variant works particularly strongly as a central kitchen island with bookmatch mirroring of large surfaces, as a statement wall cladding in elegant living spaces, as a bar counter and as a bathroom fit-out in luxurious wellness schemes. Anyone who needs absolute heat resistance (setting hot pots down directly) should switch to a porcelain such as CTX BasicKeramik or Laminam; anyone planning external applications should reach for UV-stable Beach line engineered quartz or porcelain; anyone looking for a calm, homogeneous dimension-stone appearance without veining should switch to solid colour variants or to classic white engineered quartz.