Porcelain
Invented in China, porcelain is admired for it's translucent traits, thinness, and fine quality
01: Porcelain light fixtures
Characteristics & Sourcing
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Made of kaolin clay, feldspar, and quartz.
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The natural materials are found in many places around the globe so the look of each can vary based on location
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Nonporous and sonorous, meaning it creates a musical note when struck
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As a tile, it is a very durable material and works well as a floor tile
02: Porcelain used for entire church
Production
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Raw materials get finely crushed, goes through multiple screens to to remove any pieces that are too big or too small, next depending on the ware being produced
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4 methods are pressing, casting, stiff or soft plastic forming
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after being formed, the material is fired and then ready for glaze, which would then be fired again to finish the glaze
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Some are fired in such a way that they’re referred to as “bisque”, meaning it doesn’t have the white coloration
03: Porcelain Floor Tile
Environmental Impact
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Raw materials and water used in manufacturing process can be reused
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The materials are natural and don’t have a large impact during extraction
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Long life because of durability, but can have a costly installation
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Tile itself contains no allergens and doesn’t emit other things like that into the air
Application
A common use for porcelain is for floor tiles
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Installation
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lay tile from center of room, using a thin set mortar to bond it with the substrate. Use spacers to leave even room for grout, as perimeter is reached, cut and adjust tiles, allow tile to set as long as manufacturer describes and add grout, finally, clean tile surface with damp sponge and clean water
Maintenance
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warm water and mild soap is typically used, no harsh chemicals bc it can damage the glaze or grout. Always dry after cleaning
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ASTM
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ASTM C648 - 20 Standard Test Method for Breaking Strength of Ceramic Tile
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04: Porcelain Floor Tile
