What is Porcelain

Definition

What we now called porcelain tiles is classified as: highly vitrified stoneware tile.

(vitrify = to change or make into glass or a glassy substance, especially through heat fusion)

Porcelain tiles are considered an upgrade of white clay single fired tiles, which were themselves an upgrade of red clay singe fired tiles.

Characteristics

Three major differences between porcelain and white/red single fired tiles:

	Porcelain	White/Red
Water absorption	less than 0.5%	vary from <0.5% to >10%
Firing temperature	minimum 1240˚C	around 1100˚C
Breaking strength	± 27N/mm2	±22N/mm2

Composition

Percentages of raw materials used to produce porcelain tiles have been changing in recent years to accommodate faster production times, modern technologies, market competition and manufacturers’ product mix. Here is the common composition:

MATERIAL	PERCENTAGE in weight	Analogy	Role
Quartz	±10-20%	Skeleton	Considered as the structure of the tile
Feldspar	±25%-35%	Blood	Capable of closing the pores during vitrification
Plastic clays	±10-20%	Muscles	Gives plasticity and workability because of their water molecules
Kaolin	±30%-40%	Muscles	Also provides plasticity
Carbonates			Calcium & magnesium

What is Porcelain

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