About Compac – Helpful Information
One of the most popular hard surface materials used in homes all over is engineered quartz. One of the brands of quartz available to consumers is Compac. Quartz materials such as Compac are very desirable and continually are selected to be the material used for all sorts of hard surfaces. In this post, we will consider some basic information about Compac, including what it is, fabricating it, and how to care for it.
What Quartz Is Made Of
Engineered quartz is a combination of raw materials, polymer resins and coloring pigments mixed together into a composite material. This composite is then heated an formed into a slab. The mixture varies in percentage by weight for each of the above ingredients. The ranges generally used by the companies that produce engineered quartz are:
- +90% Crushed Raw Quartz and Other Raw Materials
- -10% Polymer Resins for Binding and Coloring Pigments
The process by which engineered quartz slabs are made consist of mixing certain ingredients together to form a composite. This composite is then formed and the air is removed from the mixutre. After that, the mixture is baked at a high temperature and then cooled. The ingredients that are mixed to produce the slab are:
- Polymer Resins
- Coloring Pigments
- Natural Stone Aggregate
The ingredients may vary to a degree, but the overall recipe is pretty consistent.
As mentioned, most of the engineered quartz falls within those parameters, but Compac might have a mix that varies from that guideline. The best way to determine the exact mix for Compac is to check out the information on the website for Compac. And keep in mind, companies are constantly adjusting their recipes and protocols to tune the product.
Quartz Popularity & Compac
There are many reasons that people choose quartz to be the material for their surfaces. Kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and even shower walls are often times fashioned from quartz. In fact, many online resources make mention of the benefits and/or reasons that quartz (including Compac) is an appealing choice.
The popularity of quartz cannot be denied and there are a number of ways to see this is true. Notice the following statement taken from an article on the Consumer Reports website:
According to a National Kitchen & Bath Association survey, the vast majority of folks installing counters these days choose quartz. So quartz may appeal to house hunters.
Quartz in general is really a desirable material and that helps Compac as well. In general, the engineered quartz industry has a variety of benefits that get focused on. However, there are usually specific focus points talked about by each brand or manufacturer. For example, notice the point that Compac highlights in its material. On the website Compac
Technological Quartz is a product of exceptional resistance and stunning beauty. With the appearance and feel of natural quartz but with a better performance thanks to its high resistance. And it comes in an extensive range of colors, designs, sizes, thicknesses and ornamentations. It is the ideal product for kitchen worktops, floors, walls and all kinds of indoor surfaces that have to withstand intensive use.
Properties of Engineered Quartz
As we mentioned, quartz surfaces are generally produced following similar processes. The nuances of the process varies, but that doesn’t mean that all are necessarily created equal. There are different grades of quartz just as there are various grades of natural stone. Compac and even other engineered quartz materials though, will promote the following appealing traits:
- Non-porosity
- Stain Resistance
- Resistant to Scratching
- Easy to Clean
Like other engineered quartz surfaces, Compac no doubt offers variations of the benefits listed above. Additionally, the maintenance and care procedures for Compac will be much the same as the other brands of engineered quartz. We will cover some of those care and maintenance practices shortly, be first, let’s take a look at the color selection.
Compac Color Selection
The colors in which Compac is available is another reason for its success. After all if a company offers a product and the color palette is not chosen carefully, it could mean another trip to the drawing board to create more colors needed by the consumer. Compac has put together the following color selection for the product they offer:
- Unique Carrara
- Unique Bianco
- Unique Pietra
- Unique Calacatta
- Unique Marquina
- Unique Venatino
- Unique Arabescato
- Unique Argento
- Ice White
- Ice Black
- Absolute Blanc
- Glaciar
- Carrara
- Alaska
- Luna
- Moon
- Snow
- Láctea
- Vanille
- Arena
- Zement Ice
- Ceniza
- Plomo
- Titaneo
- Smoke Gray
- Nocturno
- Azabache
Fabricating Compac Surfaces
Fabricating Compac brings with it some of the challenges that are common to the quartz material. There are some key things that fabrication professionals need to be aware of if they choose to begin working with Compac – or another brand of quartz for that matter.
Dust Collection Equipment for Compac Fabrication
Nearly all hard surface materials used in construction projects contain at least some silica. When this material is cut, shaped, or polished, it creates dust. Those dust particles contain silica that can be dangerous if inhaled. So, when working with Compac, it is recommended that quartz fabrication dust collection equipment be used. Having the proper dust collection equipment can keep your working environment as free of respirable silica as possible.
Compac Fabrication Water Treatment
Even after the quartz dust is removed, it could still be a potential hazard. For example, some Compac fabricators are running wet tools that produce a slurry. This slurry is produced when water traps the particles that would become air particulates. The slurry is then processed using a quartz water treatment plant to separate the particles from the water. Then, the water is sent back to the shop where it can be used again to fabricate more Compac surfaces.
Proper Tools for Compac Fabrication
When working with engineered stone, many of the tools are the same as they would be for cutting or fabricating natural stone. However, there are specific variations of these tools for use on quartz. Let’s look at just a couple of examples.
First, let’s look at diamond polishing pads. When working with Compac, just like other quartz, you need to be aware of the need to keep the material from getting too hot. Excess heat during the polishing process can turn the material a different color. By using either wet polishing pads or polishing pads designed for quartz, you will likely get the best results when polishing Compac.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all materials have the same hardness. Because Compac is among the harder materials (quartz is very hard), it requires a diamond bridge saw blade for cutting quartz.
Of course, there are other best practices to follow when fabricating Compac but they are too numerous to mention here. The thing to take away form this post regarding Compac fabrication is that there are specific practices and tooling to consider. There is also some equipment that can be used for both natural stone and Compac
How to Care for Compac
Caring for Compac is likewise a matter for consideration. Maintenance and cleaning processes are fairly standard for virtually all kinds of quartz, including Compac. So what is involved?
Although, Compac does not require sealing after installation, there are occasions that can cause it to need to be sealed. There are quartz sealers that exist for treating materials like Compac should they come to need sealing due to improper care.
How to Clean Compac
Cleaning Compac can be very simple. Since Compac is stain resistant, cleaning it is as simple as using the appropriate quartz cleaning solution and not using harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing products. Cleaners designed for use on quartz are generally the correct cleaners to use. We do recommend reading the information provided by Compac or whichever quartz surface you are considering to see which kinds of cleaners are approved.
In the end, Compac is one of the brands of quartz available. It has properties that make it appealing as a hard surface material. It also offers its own color selection and it is best fabricated using recommended best practices for working with quartz. And one thing is for sure, there are plenty of reasons for choosing Compac.