3207.20.00.00 - Vitrifiable enamels and glazes, engobes (slips) and similar preparations

This HTS category, 3207.20.00.00, specifically covers vitrifiable enamels and glazes, along with engobes (slips) and similar preparations. These substances are characterized by their ability to fuse into a glassy coating when subjected to high temperatures. They are crucial components in the ceramic and glass industries, serving to impart decorative finishes, protective layers, or specific functional properties to manufactured goods. Examples include ceramic glazes applied to tiles and pottery, enamels for decorative or protective coatings on metal, and engobes used to create a smooth surface on ceramic greenware before firing.

It is important to distinguish this category from its siblings. HTS 3207.10.00.00 encompasses *prepared* pigments, opacifiers, and colors that are not necessarily designed for vitrification. HTS 3207.30.00.00 covers liquid lustres, which are typically decorative metallic or pearlescent finishes applied to glass or ceramics. Finally, HTS 3207.40 refers to glass frit and other glass in particulate form, which serves as a raw material for the production of the vitrifiable preparations found in 3207.20.00.00, rather than being the finished vitrifiable preparation itself.

As a leaf node within the HTS, 3207.20.00.00 does not have further subcategories. Classification within this heading relies on the fundamental nature of the preparation: its composition, its intended application in vitrifying processes within the ceramic or glass industry, and its physical state prior to firing. The key distinguishing factor is the presence of components that, when heated, undergo a transformation to form a fused, glassy layer.