Engineered stone

Engineered stone is a composite material made of crushed stone bound together by an adhesive, (most commonly polymer resin, with some newer versions using cement mix). This category includes engineered quartz, 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 kitchen countertops with undermount sink and cooktop installed. Tops are cut and polished at the fabricator's shop.

Engineered stone (US name) is also commonly referred to as agglomerate or agglomerated stone, the last term being that recognised by European Standards (EN 14618), although to add to the terminological confusion, this standard also includes materials manufactured with a cementitious binder. The quartz version (which end consumers are much more likely to directly deal with) is commonly known as 'quartz surface' or just 'quartz'.[4]

Manufacturing equipment

Breton S.P.A., a privately held company of Treviso, Italy, that developed large-scale Breton method in 1960s,[1] is the dominant supplier of equipment for making engineered stone. 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.

Composition

Stone aggregates is the major filler, although other material like coloured glass, shells, metals, or mirrors might be added. A typical resin based material will consist of 93% stone aggregates by weight and 7% resin (66% quartz and 34% resin by volume) . Different types of resins are used by different manufacturers. Epoxy and polyester resin are the most common types. Chemicals such as UV absorbers and stabilizers are added. To aid curing, hydrogen peroxide is added.

Process

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.

Properties

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.[5]

The material can be produced in either 12 mm, 20 mm or 30 mm thicknesses. The most common slab format is 3040 mm x 1440 mm for Quartz and 3050 mm x 1240 mm for Breton-based marbles, but other sizes like 3040 mm x 1650 mm are produced according to market demand.

Engineered stone is non porous,[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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 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 5385-5: 2011) and verification by testing of the dryness of underlying layers.

Difference between marble and quartz

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 also makes maintaining it much less difficult. Typically they can be re-polished all the way until they become too thin. Marble is also much more common and accessible around the world and comes in a wider variety, which gives their engineered counterpart a significant edge in pricing and the variety in its pattern and colors. Engineered marbles are typically most popular as flooring materials for large commercial projects such as hotels, shopping centers, business lobbies, where they combine the attractive appearance of marbles with more budget-friendly prices and reliable delivery times.

Quartz meanwhile is a much harder material. The Mohs scale of marble is roughly 3, where as quartz are usually at 7. This makes them much more resistant to scratching, however it also makes re-polishing and general processing of them a more difficult task, which is why they are most commonly used for kitchen counter tops, where the value added through processing can offset their considerably higher cost.

There is also a difference between Quartz and Quartzite, which are often confused because of the similarities in the name. Quartz countertops are man-made even through quartz is a natural material. Quartzite countertops on the other hand are natural and they are considered to be a high end countertop material.[6]

Market development

Italy was the most dominant country in the supply of engineered stone products from the 1980s until the early 2000s, 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 2012. 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 also Totem Quartz, the Iranian company which has a huge market in middle east and Central Asia. Gulfstone company , 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.

Health issues

As with any silica-containing stone, silicosis may 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.[9] 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.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sara Black (August 1, 2013). "Cast polymer categories". compositesworld.com. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Q&A: Which countertop material is toughest?". Consumer Reports. July 9, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  3. ↑ Jon Coile (May 27, 2017). "Open floor plans and parking among buyers' biggerst desires". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2018 – via PressReader.
  4. ↑ Deborah K. Dietsch (January 21, 2017). "Quartz supplants granite as people's choice for countertops". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2018 – via PressReader.
  5. ↑ Spielman, Patrick (2002). The New Scroll Saw Handbook. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 298. ISBN 0-8069-7877-5.
  6. 1 2 Daniel DiClerico (April 9, 2016). "What Is the Difference Between Quartz and Quartzite?". Consumer Reports. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  7. ↑ Jason Kamery (January 1, 2017). "One-on-One with Sophie Lubin". stoneworld.com. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ Alexia (June 9, 2018). "Pros and Cons of Quartz Countertops - Engineered Quartz Countertops". renowaze.com. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Hazard Alert Worker Exposure to Silica during Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing and Installation" (PDF). osha.gov. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ Barry Meier (April 1, 2016). "Popular Quartz Countertops Pose a Risk to Workers". The New York Times. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
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