Characteristics & Sourcing

• Made of kaolin clay, feldspar, and quartz. 

• The natural materials are found in many places around the globe so the look of each can vary based on location

• Nonporous and sonorous, meaning it creates a musical note when struck

• As a tile, it is a very durable material and works well as a floor tile

Production

• 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

• 4 methods are pressing, casting, stiff or soft plastic forming

• after being formed, the material is fired and then ready for glaze, which would then be fired again to finish the glaze

• Some are fired in such a way that they’re referred to as “bisque”, meaning it doesn’t have the white coloration

Environmental Impact

• Raw materials and water used in manufacturing process can be reused 

• The materials are natural and don’t have a large impact during extraction

• Long life because of durability, but can have a costly installation

• Tile itself contains no allergens and doesn’t emit other things like that into the air