Porcelain tile is a variety of ceramic tile basically known for its durability, strength, and resistance to water. It is made of fine and thick clay that is fired at exceptionally high temperatures, resulting in porcelain tiles basically harder and less porous in comparison with normal or standard ceramic tiles.
They come in lots of finishes, glazed and unglazed, polished, textured, and used for flooring and wall applications both in residential and commercial high-rise buildings.
The first porcelain tile dates back to ancient China during the Tang Dynasty, 618–907 AD, when the Chinese improved their porcelain-making techniques. Chinese artisans discovered that with the use of kaolin clay and high-temperature firing processes, a hard material with durability and translucency can be created.
It was then passed on to the remaining Asian countries and to Europe, specifically during the Renaissance period, where Italian craftspeople began producing fine-quality porcelain tiles.
These very early innovations set up porcelain tile as we know it today.
Specifically in Europe, it was in the 18th and 19th centuries that modern methods of porcelain tile production were developed with the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
Companies like Sassuolo, who began in Italy producing porcelain tiles to a more professional level, established industrial standards for the same and spread them across the world.
Porcelain tiles are a popular option for many architectural and design applications nowadays because of their robustness, low maintenance requirements, and variety in terms of appearance.
There are different kinds of porcelain tiles, each having their best places of application due to differences in characteristics. Here are the main types of porcelain tiles:
Glazed Porcelain Tiles: These are such that during the firing process, there is a glass-like coating applied that gives it a glossy finish and offers more color and pattern options. They are very good at resisting stains and find wide applications on walls and floors of both residential and commercial spaces.
Unglazed porcelain tiles are made without the application of a top coat glaze over the tile.
This creates a much more natural, matte finish. They are highly hardwearing and have good grip, so they work perfectly in places that have heavy people flow and even in outdoor applications.
Polished Porcelain Tiles: These are polished to a high polish after firing, giving them a glossy surface much like glazed tiles, although without any extra coating. Polished porcelain is elegant in look and normally applied in living rooms, hallways, and commercial spaces.
Through-Body or Full-Body Porcelain: The color and design run throughout the entire body thickness of the tile. Scratches and wear are less noticeable. Full-body porcelain is ideal for heavy-traffic areas such as shopping malls, airports, and industrial spaces.
Textured Porcelain Tiles: The texture in the tiles has a feel and appearance resembling natural stone, wood, or any other kind of substratum, enhancing not only aesthetic value but also the anti-slip characteristics these tiles possess. These are just superb to impart chic looks to bathrooms, kitchens, or outdoors with that natural look and further grip at every step.
Large Format Porcelain Tiles: Porcelain tiles that are larger in size and usually used to create continuous modern designs with thinner grout lines. They are most commonly used with modern residential and commercial designs.
Porcelain Tiles How it is Made Up Of ?
Under normal conditions, porcelain includes fine-grained and highly refined clay, usually containing kaolin, complemented by other minerals like feldspar, quartz, and silica. Many production processes are involved, including:
Raw Material Preparation: The raw materials are carefully selected and mixed. The major constituent, the kaolin clay, is mixed with other materials to give the desired characteristics to the final product. The mixture is ground into a fine powder.
The powered mixture is then formed into tile shapes through a dry pressing process. This material, under high pressure, is compressed in molds of desired dimension and shape.
Drying: The formed tiles are then dried to remove excess moisture. This will prevent the cracking or warping of the tiles during firing.
Glazing: The face of the dried tiles is given a liquid glaze. This can be for different finishes, ranging from glossy to matte, in different colors and patterns.
Firing: After this, the tiles get fired in a kiln at very high temperatures, normally in the range of 1200 to 1400 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to 2192 degrees Fahrenheit and 2552 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. It’s a process by virtue of which tiles become dense, hard, and waterproof.
Polishing: The tiles go through an additional polishing process where they are polished after firing by grinding their surface to be highly lustrous.
Quality Control: Extra finished tiles to be used for replacement, if necessary, are inspected for quality and industrial standards regarding strength, durability, and appearance.
How are tiles made of porcelain created?
The following procedure is used to create porcelain tiles:
Preparing the Raw Materials: A mixture of finely powdered clay, sand, and feldspar is used.
Molding: High-pressure molds are used to shape the mixture into tiles.
Drying: To get rid of extra moisture, the molded tiles are dried.
Firing: To increase the density and strength of the dried tiles, they are burnt in a kiln at temperatures between 1200°C and 1400°C.
Glazing (optional): To give color and texture to the tile surface before the final fire, a layer of glaze can be placed.
What do tiles made of porcelain mean?
One kind of ceramic tile that is well-known for its strength, longevity, and slow rate of water absorption is porcelain tile. They are produced by firing a highly refined, finely powdered clay at a temperature greater than that of typical ceramic tiles.
How are porcelain tiles unique from other types of tiles?
Compared to ordinary ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles are less porous, denser, and more durable. Because of their stain, scratch, and moisture resistance, they can be used in a range of settings, including high traffic areas and outdoor installations.
Conclusion
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