Frits

Frits are small particles of glass formed by melting glass and then quenching the melt. In ceramics and glassmaking, frits are ground to powders or granules and used as glaze components or enamels. They provide a ready-made glass composition with controlled fluxes, colorants, and stabilizers, enabling consistent glaze behavior and often lowering the firing temperature of a glaze.

Production and composition: Frits are produced by fusing silica with fluxing agents such as soda ash, borates, or lead compounds, and stabilizers like alumina or lime. The molten glass is quenched to solidify, then crushed and milled to a specified particle size. Frits can be lead-containing or lead-free, reflecting evolving safety and environmental standards.

Uses: In glazes for pottery and tiles, frits form part of the glaze matrix, supplying flux and colorants and contributing to a glassy surface. Enamels for metal often rely on frit pastes. By providing a controlled composition and particle size, frits help regulate melting behavior, glaze fit to the body, color development, and glaze durability. Frits may be blended with other raw materials, and frit powders are sometimes milled into suspensions for application. Frit pellets or pastes are used in some sealing applications, such as glass-to-metal seals.

Name: Frits is also a common Dutch masculine given name, used independently or as a diminutive form of Frederik or related names. Notable individuals include Frits Bolkestein and Frits Zernike.