Almost all porcelain floor tiles and nearly all wall tiles for the bathroom are glazed. Before the tile is placed in the kiln, the glaze is applied; during the firing process, it fuses to the surface of the porcelain body. Glazed porcelain tiles feature the same four basic glaze finishes as unglazed porcelain tiles: gloss, matte, lappato, and textured, with countless variations available for each. Lappato-glazed tiles are more reflective than matte tiles but softer than gloss tiles. The term "honed" is derived from the Italian for "semi-polished" or "honed" and is commonly used in the stone business to describe marble with a satin finish rather than a highly polished, shining finish. It appears that the number of "types" and "styles" of ceramic tiles in use today is nearly equal. 
Since the 1970s, when the bulk of bathroom wall tiles were small tiles that were 6" square and available in a dozen colors and Japanese floor tiles constructed of glazed mosaics, we have gone a long way. In addition to the bicottura and monocottura types that dominated the residential market until the late 1990s, we now offer vitrified porcelain, both full-bodied and double-loaded, as well as an abundance of glazed porcelain tiles with matte glaze, gloss glaze, "lappato" or semi-polished finish, and a variety of textured, slip-resistant tiles. Similarly, unglazed, fully vitrified porcelain tiles are available in a variety of finishes. Even if it's not always easy to tell what type of tile anything is simply by looking at it, understanding the differences is crucial if you want to choose the most appropriate tile for the task at hand and be safe. To assist you in navigating this complicated terminology maze, we have developed a list of the most popular tile kinds, their performance characteristics, where to use them, and how to manage them. In addition, we debunk several myths and misconceptions regarding glazed and unglazed tiles. The components of porcelain tile include clay, sand, felspar, quartz, and water. Depending on the type of tile, it is then reduced to a fine powder, subjected to tremendous pressure, and burned between 1000 and 1300 degrees Celsius. Either MONOCOTTURA or BICOTTURA may be utilized to produce ceramic tiles. Tiles created using the monocottura (Italian for "single fired") method are primarily used on floors, although they can also be applied to walls. When monocottura tiles are fired, both the body and glaze are simultaneously and rapidly burned at a high temperature. Until the late 1990s, the great majority of residential floor tiles were created using this technology. The bicottura method is used to manufacture wall tiles with a greater variety of colors and attractive surfaces. Contrary to what the translation says, the number of glaze layers may influence the number of times these tiles are fired. 
Bicottura tiling is fired at a lower temperature than monocottura tiling, as hardness is not required. In general, higher temperatures result in more durable tiles. More than 4 percent of water is absorbed by ceramic tiles. Because full vitrification is not required for their creation, they should not be considered flawed or limited. Porcelain tile is theoretically a member of the ceramic family, but it has distinctive characteristics due to the clays and techniques employed in its production. Ceramic tile is far less durable than porcelain. Each is made from clay and fired in a kiln. The key difference is that porcelain tiles are completely vitrified, making them exceedingly hard and suitable for heavy traffic flooring, including in industrial environments, with a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%. Porcelain tiles can be utilized in virtually every setting, including factory floors, swimming pools, and light-traffic bathroom floors (and walls), as well as around and around them (as mosaics). The tremendous pressure used to press the clay (up to 100,000 lb/in2), the volcanic temperature (about 1250 degrees Celsius), and the mixture of clays and minerals utilized are the three primary causes of this porosity rate. All other variables are determined by the variation in the clay mixture, which consists of kaolin, felspar, quartziferous sand, and metallic oxides and permits strong pressing and burning. (White China clay, often known as kaolin, is necessary for the tile to retain its shape throughout firing.) By putting colored dry dust clay into molds and pressing under such incredible pressure, the clay dust particles are pressed very closely together and the amount of air and moisture between the particles is diminished. A denser, less porous body is the outcome. Due to the properties of porcelain clay, dust particles melt and fuse to generate vitrification when burned at approximately 1250 degrees Celsius. This is the vitrification process. 
It is the process of transforming molten clay into a substance with a porosity of less than 0.5%. The harder and more impermeable the tile, the less likely it is to absorb liquids and discolor. Moreover, the stronger the vitrification, the lower the likelihood of scratches and chips. Obviously, the less likely moisture is to penetrate a tile's surface, the more likely it is to rest on the surface, which, depending on the surface's texture, may increase the danger of slipping. There are four distinct types of vitrified tiles: full body, double loaded, glazed, and soluble salt. This final type will not be considered in this article for a variety of reasons. Ceramic without glaze: Full-bodied porcelain is a type of vitrified tile in which a single hue runs from the surface to the base of the tile. In addition to the color, the technical properties such as water absorption, frost resistance, and acid resistance are consistent throughout. Prior to firing, double-loaded tiles are created by compressing two layers of clay, often of contrasting hues, together. Because the clay is entirely made of porcelain, the two layers fuse to create a flawlessly homogeneous product. This is generally done when the color of the top layer is generated using extremely expensive pigments, such as cobalt. It controls expenses by confining the color to the top 3–4 mm as opposed to the entire 9–10 mm. When the ornamental design is imprinted into the top surface of the base tile, traditional encaustic tiles feature indented sections. The recessed areas are then filled with contrasting colored "slip" (liquid clay) and fired to produce a homogeneous porcelain tile with the same characteristics as a full-bodied porcelain product. Although porcelain that has been polished is glossy, it does not have a gloss glaze. It is an unglazed tile that has been polished mechanically in the same manner as marble or granite tiles. Polished porcelain must be sealed to prevent staining in the same manner as polished marble or granite tiles. Polishing porcelain alters its physical qualities, specifically its absorption rate. Standard, or "matte," porcelain does not collect dirt and stains due to its finely textured surface; however, it may show limited surface soiling that is easily washable. 
The use of a penetrating sealer is necessary because mechanical polishing at the factory creates a smoother surface that is less likely to attract and retain dirt from shoes, etc., but damages the porcelain dust beads and enlarges the tile's microscopic pores. The porcelain tile becomes slippery when wet as a result of polishing, which creates a smooth, mirror-like surface. Despite the fact that they are more slippery and therefore more hazardous when wet, polished porcelain tiles are typically used for public walkways in shopping malls because they are easier and cheaper to maintain. After a penetrating sealer has been applied to the surface of the polished, or lappato, unglazed porcelain tiles, they must be cleaned with a pH-neutral cleanser that was developed specifically for this purpose. Standard floor cleaners have a high pH level that destroys the sealer, reducing its efficacy and shortening its lifespan. Because adding a quality penetrating sealer can only address the staining problem but not the slickness issue, it is recommended to use porcelain that has been polished on walls or floors that are unlikely to become wet. Even if tiles with a matte finish are slip-resistant, it is always prudent to check the manufacturer's slip rating. Even matte-finished, unglazed porcelain may have varying slip ratings if the colors are different. Unglazed porcelain with a lappato, or honed, the finish will have a slip rating that lies between polished and matte. Only use textured surfaces outdoors because they are difficult to clean and have a very high slip resistance rating. Most people believe that "glazed" signifies "shiny" or "glossy" when referring to glazed porcelain. In the tile industry, however, the term refers to the colorful or patterned coating that is put to the tile's surface. For instance, marble with a "glossy" surface and unglazed porcelain with a "glossy" surface are both not "glazed." The glaze is not a descriptor of a textural finish; it is a substance. Think of glazing as paint, similar to how you can have matte paint for your walls and glossy paint for your doors and trim. The term for tile paint is glaze. A wide variety of glazed and unglazed tiles are available in our company, you can simply contact our sales managers and receive the catalogs.
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