Jan. 13, 2025
Engineered quartz and natural quartzite are both popular choices for countertops, backsplashes, bathrooms, and more. Their names are similar, and are sometimes (incorrectly) used interchangeably. But even aside from the names, there&#;s a lot of confusion about these materials. A recent article titled &#;Natural Quartzite and Engineered Quartz: What&#;s the Difference?&#; by Karin Kirk does a great job explaining the differences. Below are some excerpts from her article.
Quartzite is a natural stone.
Quartzite is 100% natural and comes directly from the earth. Quartzite has formed in locations all around the planet, but the most well-known quartzite quarries are in Brazil. Quartzite is also quarried in the United States, Sweden, Canada, Norway, India, and Italy, among other locales. Dramatic settings like the Medicine Bow Mountains in Wyoming show off quartzite in its natural habitat, where an impressive massif of white quartzite rises above the surrounding terrain.
All quartzites are made of 100% minerals and are purely a product of nature. Quartz (the mineral) is the main ingredient in all quartzites, and some types of quartzite contain smaller amounts of other minerals that give the stone color and character. Here are some examples of beautiful Quartzite StoneMark currently stocks in our stone yard inventory:
An unfortunate side effect of the desirability of quartzite is the temptation to sell stones as quartzite when they are not quartzite. Thus, quartzite is commonly mislabeled, which has resulted in widespread confusion about the properties of the stone. So-called &#;soft quartzite&#; is usually marble, which has entirely different properties than real quartzite. And, some sandstones are sold as quartzite, which further adds to the mix-up. Sandstone and quartzite have the same mineral ingredients (quartz), but quartzite has much lower porosity.
One well-known brand of manufactured quartz literally calls itself natural stone, which it isn&#;t. Manufactured quartz is sometimes thought to be maintenance-free, which would be nice, but engineered surfaces are not immune to staining, chipping, scratching, or damage from excessive heat. Just as with any other material, users of manufactured quartz surfaces need to be mindful of the properties of engineered quartz and the particular requirements for its care.
The most common problem with quartzites is inadequate sealing &#; particularly along the edges and cut surfaces. As described above, some quartzites are porous, and care must be taken to seal the stone. As fabricator who is experienced with quartzite, we understand how to seal all types of quartzite, and StoneMark countertops receive a 15-year guarantee.
There is no simple answer to this question. Each material has its devoted fans and selling points. If you choose quartz, make sure you purchase a quality product and buy from a reputable source. Regardless of which surface you choose, we can help you make an informed decision so the stone you select is perfect for your kitchen and lifestyle.
Engineered stone is a composite material made of crushed stone bound together by an adhesive to create a solid surface. The adhesive is most commonly polymer resin, with some newer versions using cement mix. This category includes engineered quartz (SiO2), polymer concrete and engineered marble stone.[1] The application of these products depends on the original stone used. For engineered marbles the most common application is indoor flooring and walls, while the quartz based product is used primarily for kitchen countertops[2] as an alternative to laminate or granite.[3] Related materials include geopolymers and cast stone. Unlike terrazzo, the material is factory made in either blocks or slabs, cut and polished by fabricators, and assembled at the worksite.
Engineered stone is also commonly referred to as agglomerate or agglomerated stone, the last term being that recognised by European Standards (EN ), although to add to the terminological confusion, this standard also includes materials manufactured with a cementitious binder.[citation needed] The quartz version (which end consumers are much more likely to directly deal with) is commonly known as 'quartz surface' or just 'quartz'.[4]
Breton S.P.A., a privately held company of Treviso, Italy, that developed the large-scale Breton method in s,[1] is the dominant supplier of equipment for making engineered stone.[citation needed] Although Breton was the original manufacturer of moulding equipment and still holds multiple international patents on the process, there are now several other companies producing similar machinery.
99.9% pure silica in grits and powder form constitutes 90&#;93% of the body by weight dispersed in a matrix of unsaturated polyester resin (7&#;10%) mixed with peroxide catalyst and cobalt accelerator which facilitates the curing of the thermoset at ambient temperature. The cured material is normally kept for 24&#;48 hours before polishing and finishing absorbers are also dosed into the chemical mix to inhibit the discoloration as a result of reaction of unsaturated polyester resin with UV light. Engineered quartz stones manufactured by using unsaturated polyester resins are characterized by low water absorption, superior chemical durability, high hardness, flexural strength and good thermal shock resistance compared to granite and marble.[5]
Compaction by vibrocompression vacuum process uses elastomeric molds in which a crushed stone/resin mix is cast on a moving belt. The mixture of approximately 93% stone aggregates and 7% polyester resin by weight (66% quartz and 34% resin by volume) is heated and compressed under vacuum in a large press. The vibration helps compact the mixture and results in an isotropic slab with virtually no porosity.[1] Engineered stone is then processed in basically the same manner as its natural counterpart.
Some companies import boulders themselves to crush into agglomerates (stone powders) of various grain size for their products, others simply buy already-crushed stone powders.
Goto Xinyun to know more.
Engineered stone is typically worked in the same way as natural stone using a water jet cutter or a diamond blade. This is in contrast with solid surface materials which can be cut with regular saws.[6]
The material can be produced in either 12 mm, 20 mm or 30 mm thicknesses. The most common slab format is mm x mm for Quartz and mm x mm for Breton-based marbles, but other sizes like mm x mm are produced according to market demand.
Engineered stone is non porous,[7] more flexible, and harder than many types of natural stone. Since it has a uniform internal structure, it does not have hidden cracks or flaws that may exist in natural stone and also has a color/pattern consistency from slab to slab.[8] Polyester resin binding agents allow some flexibility, preventing cracking under flexural pressure. But, the binding agents often continue to harden, leading to a loss of flexural strength over time. The polyester resins are not completely UV stable and engineered stone should not be used in outdoor applications.[9] Continuous exposure to UV can cause discoloration of the stone, and breakdown of the resin binder.
The material is sometimes damaged by direct application of heat. Quartz engineered stone is less heat resistant than other stone surfaces including most granite, marble and limestone; but is not affected by temperatures lower than 150 °C (300 °F). Quartz engineered stone can be damaged by sudden temperature changes. Manufacturers recommend that hot pots and pans never be placed directly on the surface, and that a hot pad or trivet is used under portable cooking units.
When used as floor tiles, care is required in ensuring compatibility with the adhesive used. Reaction resin adhesives and rapid drying cementitious adhesives are generally successful, but bond failure or discoloration can occur with other cementitious adhesives. Additionally, agglomerate stone tiles are more sensitive to both thermal expansion and contraction and to dampness from underlying screeds, necessitating the inclusion of movement joints at a higher frequency than for stone or ceramic floor tiles (see for example British Standard BS -5: ) and verification by testing of the dryness of underlying layers.
Although both the marble- and quartz-based engineered stones are created through a similar process, and multiple companies produce both at the same time, there are distinct differences in their properties and applications.
Marble is a relatively soft material which is prone to scratching, but simple to maintain. Typically it can be repeatedly polished until it becomes too thin. Marble is much more common and accessible around the world, and comes in a wider variety, which gives its engineered counterpart a significant edge in pricing, and more variety in pattern and colors. Engineered marble is typically used as flooring materials for large commercial projects such as hotels, shopping centers, business lobbies, where it combines the attractive appearance of marble with budget-friendly cost and reliable delivery time.
Quartz is a much harder material. The Mohs scale hardness of marble is roughly 3, whereas that of quartz is around 7. This makes it much more resistant to scratching, however it also makes re-polishing and general processing a more difficult task, which is why it is most commonly used for kitchen counter tops, where the value added through processing can offset its considerably higher cost.
There is also a difference between quartz and quartzite, which may be confused because of the similarities in the name. Quartz countertops are man-made even though quartz is a natural material. Quartzite countertops on the other hand are natural and they are considered to be a high end countertop material.[7]
Italy was the most dominant country in the supply of engineered stone products from the s until the early s, especially in engineered marble. The growth of the Chinese economy has changed the market drastically as China now has the most producers and largest overall quantity produced. There are estimated to be more than 100 engineered stone suppliers in China alone. India also has roughly 40 slab producing units as of December . The original companies that operate Breton machines such as the Italian companies, Quarella, Santa Margherita and the Taiwanese company Romastone remain the most recognizable brands for marble. The private Spanish company Cosentino brand Silestone and the public Israeli company Caesarstone are the most recognizable brands for quartz, as well as Totem Quartz, an Iranian company which has a huge market in the middle east and Central Asia. Gulfstone, an Oman-based company, is the only producer of engineered quartz stone in the GCC. China is now probably the largest market for engineered marble due to new construction projects, while engineered quartz is primarily sold in North America and Europe as high end residential kitchen counter tops. [citation needed]
As with any silica-containing stone, silicosis can result from breathing dust produced when cutting or processing engineered stone made with quartz. The risk of inhaling quartz dust can be mitigated by taking appropriate safety precautions.[10][11] Risk of silicosis is high when little or no safety precautions or protective equipment are used. This may occur in small shops or in countries where the industry is not regulated or monitored.[12][13]
In Australia, a National Dust Diseases Taskforce was established in July .[14] In Western Australia, legislation was introduced to support the early detection of silicosis caused by engineered stone.[15] Medical practitioners in Western Australia are advised to follow strict guidelines for the health surveillance of at risk workers.[16] In February Australian trade unions called for banning the importation of engineered stone into Australia.[17] In December of the same year, Australia became the first country to ban engineered stone in response to workers developing silicosis. The ban came into effect on 1 July . [18]
In California, 77 workers at quartz countertop fabrication shops have been diagnosed with silicosis as of July, . Inspections by safety officials in and showed that 72% of these shops were out of compliance with federal silica dust exposure standards. The state's Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board approved emergency regulations in December, .[19]
For more Artificial Quartz(ru,ko,ja)information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Previous: None
Next: 5 حلول حجرية مصممة لمختلف الصناعات وكيف تحقق نتائج مذهلة
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )