Glossary

To achieve predominantly red to yellow colour tones, it is nowadays state of the art that either cadmium frits or cadmium-selenium inclusion pigments are used. Highly toxic raw materials such as cadmium selenite are not being used for decades.

 

To produce the cadmium-selenium inclusion pigments, the toxic components are coated with a resistant zircon or quartz layer. The inclusion pigment is free of labeling, which means, that there is no risk in handling with this pigment. However, such glaze raw materials have not be ground in a ball mill, because this would damage the protective coating and toxic compounds can be released.

 

In the case of cadmium-selenium inclusion pigments, it can usually be assumed that they are inert and that they do not have a negative effect on acid resistance and cadmium solubility. Nevertheless we do not recommend to use glazes with cadmium-selenium inclusion pigments for the use of dinnerware. As a manufacturer of dinnerware, which is intended to come into contact with food, you still have to test cadmium (and lead) solubility in an accredited laboratory according to EC1935/2004 and 2005/31/EEC!

 

In cadmium frits, which often ensure a very lively surface in the glazes, the cadmium is already bound in the glass network, so that there is no risk for human beings in working with the glaze which contains cadmium frit. Also here, we do not give any recommendations regarding suitability for dinnerware products. A statement can only be made after an examination of the above-mentioned lead and cadmium solubility on your produced goods.