Porcelain Tiles verses Ceramic Tiles
It may be surprising to many to learn that Porcelain Tiles are in fact a variant of ceramic tiles; Porcelain Tiles are a unique type of ceramic tiles that are fired at extremely high temperatures, which makes them much stronger than ordinary ceramic tiles and harder than granite too.
Ceramic tiles are primarily made up from clays, quartziferous sands, glass substances and other minerals which are mixed with water and fired at very hot temperatures to create a glazed tile that is durable, tough and natural beautiful. While traditional ceramic tiles can be left naturally colored and unglazed like terra cotta, they can also be made to feature colored or highly designed surfaces, either with a glazed or high gloss (finished with a glass surface) or else a matte finish.
In general, ceramic tiles are preferred owing to the minimum maintenance that they require, since these are built to retain virtually no dirt; they can hence be kept clean simply by mopping. Ceramic tiles are also highly resistant to fires and can actually help to maintain a structure in the event of a fire – this makes it a popular choice for flooring material among the safety-conscious.
Porcelain tiles differ from ceramic tiles in the ingredients used as well as the processes that are involved in its production. For instance, instead of the glaze being applied to a ceramic base tile the glaze is blended with the clay that forms the tile. These hardier versions of ceramic tiles are composed of finer porcelain clays and also are fired at much higher temperatures – in the range of 1200 degrees centigrade. This porcelain clay ‘body’ is then pressed at extreme pressure in a hydraulic press to form the tile.
Porcelain Tiles can belong to the following categories:
Unglazed porcelain tiles: These porcelain tiles are homogenous in terms of an even coloration throughout the body, which ensures that scratches or other small damage are less obvious; unglazed porcelain tiles also have a very good slip-resistance.
Glazed porcelain tiles: Such porcelain tiles may or may not possess the same coloration across the tile owing to the glazed surface, which in turn helps seal the microscopic pores making it easier to maintain as compared to their unglazed counterparts.
The difference in manufacturing procedures makes porcelain tiles denser, less porous, much stronger and less prone to moisture and stain absorption in comparison to ceramic tiles. Owing to these reasons, most porcelain tiles are suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations. Porcelain tiles are the new hot favorite among tiles in the market because of its sleek contemporary look, low maintenance, stain resistance qualities and versatility – these can be manufactured in sizes as big as 1200mm x 800mm or 1000mm x 1000mm! Possessing such positive qualities, the fact that porcelain can be made to resemble stone almost always makes it an arch rival for traditional natural products.
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