Types and characteristics of artificial stone and its use

1. Types of artificial stone

(1) According to the materials used in production

Artificial marble is mainly divided into: cement-based artificial marble, resin-based artificial marble, composite artificial marble, and sintered artificial marble.

Among these four methods of making artificial marble, the most commonly used is polyester artificial marble, which has the best physical and chemical properties, easy design of patterns, reproducibility, and is suitable for various purposes, but the price is absolutely high; cement Type artificial marble is the cheapest, but has poor corrosion resistance and is prone to micro-cracking. It is suitable for use as a board but not for sanitary ware; the composite type combines the advantages of the first two, with good physical and chemical properties, cost It is also low; sintered artificial marble only uses clay as an adhesive, but it needs to be roasted at high temperature, so the energy consumption is large, the cost is high, and the product breakage rate is high.

(2) According to the product name used, it is classified as:

1. Acrylic stone: a chemical resin synthetic material, clean, mostly used for kitchen countertops, easy to form, good waterproof, no color difference, but easy to scratch.

2. Synthetic stone: Made of marble powder and resin, the texture is firm.

3. Microcrystalline stone: The main component is similar to glass products, the name is bright and clean, the color is magnificent, and the texture is hard.

4. Terrazzo: However, it has poor corrosion resistance and is prone to micro-cracking. It is suitable for sheet metal but not for sanitary ware.

Second, the characteristics of artificial stone

(1) Rich colors and everything. There are solid colors, such as: white, yellow, black, red, etc. There is also hemp color. On the basis of the net color board, particles of different colors and sizes are added to create a variety of colorful color effects. There are many kinds, and the choice is very large.

(2) No radioactive pollution. The material of artificial stone has been strictly screened and does not contain radioactive substances, so consumers can use it with confidence.

(3) Moderate hardness and toughness. Natural stone is hard, brittle, not resistant to impact, easy to break, and has better impact resistance than natural stone.

(4) It is convenient to process and manufacture. The hardness and toughness of artificial stone have been adjusted to a certain range. It can be processed like hardwood. All woodworking tools and mechanical equipment can be used for the production and processing of artificial stone. It can be bonded (with special glue, all kinds of countertops can be "seamlessly"), bendable, and processable. Into a variety of shapes, which is unmatched by natural stone.

(5) The structure is compact, clean and hygienic. There are natural micropores in natural stone. When making the countertop of the cabinet, nutrients such as vegetable soup can easily penetrate into it and breed bacteria; while the artificial stone has a dense structure, no micropores, and liquid substances cannot Infiltration, bacteria cannot grow in it, so it is reasonable for some businesses to hype artificial stone as "antibacterial stone".

Since its birth, artificial stone has undergone decades of research, development and innovation, enabling artificial stone to develop a variety of materials for a wide range of applications in commercial, residential, and even military fields.

In commercial use, the use of artificial stone is almost unlimited. According to the adaptability of the product, it can be used for equipment and facilities in health centers, medical institutions, public office buildings, factories and mines, shopping malls and other spaces. When it acts on counters, walls, sinks, display stands, furniture, elevators and other utensils, the artificial stone with unique color and texture design all shows its thoughtfulness, warmth, strong plasticity, free cutting, bending, grinding, bonding and durability, etc. Excellent performance, these features of the product allow consumers to create boldly and maintain aesthetics when using it.

Artificial stone can be made into materials of various application grades according to the needs of use. It is a hygienic and environmentally friendly material. Its surface seams are very tight and impermeable to water. Therefore, in the catering service industry, it can be used to design original dining tables, display booths and clean and hygienic kitchen workbenches. Similarly, when used in medical and health units with strict hygiene standards, users can be flexible according to human body lines. Designed and installed in medical rooms, laboratories, surgical operating rooms.

In terms of home decoration, artificial stone is superior to the characteristics of acid resistance, alkali resistance, cold and heat resistance and impact resistance that are not found in general traditional building materials. As a decorative material with good texture and many colors, it can not only beautify the interior and exterior decoration, but also satisfy The diverse needs of design can provide architects and designers with an extremely wide range of design spaces to create spaces and express natural feelings.

Artificial stone can be formulated into an advanced composite according to different requirements. Because of its special composition, it is difficult to wear and tear, and because the color and pattern are deep inside and outside the material, it can be concave in quality. If there are lines, nicks or scratches or even serious wear and tear, as long as the corresponding measures are taken to refurbish, it can be restored to the same as new.

Many families use artificial stone as countertops in the decoration of kitchens and bathrooms. Since artificial stone is processed by imitating the surface texture of natural marble, it has similar mechanism characteristics of marble, and is better than natural marble in hardness, gloss and wear resistance. This resin has low viscosity, easy molding and fast curing, and can be Cures at room temperature. Moreover, the color and texture of artificial stone are delicate, and the pattern can be controlled and determined by the designer, and it can be arbitrarily shaped into more than 100 different varieties with colorful and elegant feeling. Rich color imagination, natural pigments and the combination of different materials can create colorful colors. Colors and materials complement each other, the design space will be wider, and people's passions will always be new!