The reason why sealing matte porcelain tiles for is becoming one of the most import and frequently asked question is because as consumers become more knowledgeable about a variety of products, it can be difficult for them to choose between natural stone, natural marble, natural timber, and porcelain tiles because they have so many options to consider. We are all aware that natural products like stone, marble, and wood do, in fact, require routine sealing; however, does the same hold true for porcelain tiles? The response provided by Scott Worthington from Aqua Mix via tiletoday.com.au was the best one we could come up with. Read the article he has posted here. Please contact the professionals through the inquiry form provided on our website or via WhatsApp if you have any questions. Update Since this article was written, it is essential to note that the process of producing porcelain tiles has undergone significant development, which is something that should be taken into consideration. The improvements have had a significant impact on all aspects of porcelain tile, including its quality, its durability, and its aesthetics. 
Because of recent technological advancements in porcelain floor and wall tiles, sealing virtually all porcelain tiles is no longer necessary. Glaze is applied to the majority of porcelain tiles currently available on the market. This indicates that they have a porosity of less than 0.5% and do not require any sort of sealing. In point of fact, the only sealers that are appropriate are those that are specialized, as the majority of sealers will not penetrate the glaze or be absorbed by the glazed porcelain tile. Glazed porcelain tiles offer a number of benefits and advantages, which you can learn more about in this article. Porcelain's ability to be sealed is quickly becoming one of the most frequently asked questions in the industry. To get the most out of this answer, it is helpful to have some background information on the development and composition of porcelain tile. What exactly is a tile made of porcelain? Several well-known companies in Italy are credited with being the ones who first pioneered the production of porcelain in its modern form. The production of porcelain utilizes china or porcelain clays more frequently than "normal" ceramic production does because porcelain is made from a more pure mixture of high-quality clay than is used in "normal" ceramic production. These have a high silica content, and once fired, they produce materials that, like silica itself, have low water absorption, high chemical resistance, high abrasion resistance, and good overall hardness. In other words, these materials have all of the characteristics that silica is known for. 
The early adopters of this technology were the first to recognize the technology's high level of performance and market it accordingly; porcelain ended up becoming the standard. The water absorption feature was one of the most easily accessible technical features that the marketers used to highlight this high-performance aspect of the product. The water absorption rate must be lower than 0.5% to meet the European standards' requirements (Tolerances ISO UNE EN ISO 10.545-3). European manufacturers surpassed this impressive standard in many cases, producing products with an average water absorption rate of less than 0.1%. Therefore, because porcelain has such a low water absorption rate and because the clay is milled and spray dried to such small particle size distributions before being pressed and then fired at temperatures higher than 1200 degrees Celsius, the porcelain that was produced does NOT REQUIRE SEALING. Consequently, this ought to be the conclusion of the tale. However, that is not the case. There are now many different kinds of porcelain, particularly polished porcelain, that are able to absorb liquids and, as a result, can gain from being sealed. Why does this hold true? The Porcelain We Use Today The reason for this modification is straightforward. There are a wide variety of distinct types of porcelain available today. 
These porcelains are produced in a variety of nations using a variety of quality control standards in order to suit a variety of price and performance requirements. In contrast to this, the production of porcelains in Europe was first carried out by a limited few individuals who were tasked with adhering to a predetermined set of stringent performance requirements. It established the definition of "porcelain" as the default setting. On the other hand, this definition is no longer something that can be assigned to any and all things that are called porcelain. Because of this, in the past, we advised against using any kind of sealant on "porcelain," but today, before providing a response, we want more information about the specific porcelain in question. Because of this, many modern porcelains have a rate of water absorption that is greater than the norm that was originally established, and as a result, they need a sealer in order to function correctly. Do a quick water test to see whether or not your porcelain will benefit from having a sealer applied to it. If, after a few minutes, water is still absorbed by the tile, then the tile is susceptible to staining and would benefit from being sealed. In most cases, the items that have been polished will prove to be the most useful, in particular some of the "honed" or satin materials that are now being made available. Which Sealants Are Effective? Because of its one-of-a-kind chemical makeup, porcelain is notoriously difficult to waterproof. Because its water absorption rate is very low and it has a very fine and highly compressed crystal lattice, it is challenging for many conventional sealers to form a bond with it. 
There are only two kinds of sealers—penetrating type products and floor finishes—capable of effectively protecting porcelain. Penetrating or Impregnators These sealers dry and harden beneath the tile's surface while they are at work. In most cases, they do not alter the appearance of the tile and have no negative impact on the coefficient of friction of the tile (slip resistance). It is a widely held belief that solvent-based rather than water-based penetrating sealers for porcelain provide the greatest potential for success. Because the molecules of the solvents are smaller than those of water, it is simpler for them to break through the dense surface of the porcelain. This is the reasoning behind it. This holds true to a certain degree or portion. However, if the application method of a premium water-based product (such as Aqua Mix Sealers Choice) is altered to let the sealer to stay for a longer period of time, then the performance achieved is superior to that of conventional solvent sealers. To change what is considered to be the standard and accepted method of applying penetrating sealer is thought to be counterproductive in light of the fact that most sealer companies are working to improve their levels of productivity and quality control. Because of this reason, businesses such as Aqua Mix have created specialized sealers for porcelain. At the moment, they are based on solvents since this choice permits great performance while also requiring no adjustment to the conventional application methods. 
In comparison to the older, more conventional versions, the solvent sealers of this new generation offer significant advancements. For example, Aqua Mix Pro Solv 10 is a type of solvent that is water dispersible. It does not burn, it does not poison, and it has an excellent vapor transmission rate. It will not turn yellow, and because its flash point is so high, it can be safely applied even when the temperature is very high. It is a premium sealer because it provides high levels of stain resistance (especially against oils), and it has a life expectancy of up to 10 years, making it significantly superior to conventional solvents in both of these respects. Floor Coverings/Finishes Because of its tough, thick, and often flat surface, polished porcelain makes it almost impossible to apply surface sealers. This is one of the main reasons why penetrating sealers, like Pro Solv 10, are the standard in the industry. However, when a porcelain surface that has been polished starts to show signs of wear and scratching, the typical method of restoring the surface, which involves wet polishing, is sometimes impractical. At this point, the use of a "synthetic polish" rather than a traditional one becomes a feasible choice. However, the use of thermoplastic resins is essential in order to achieve an effective connection between a surface coating and the porcelain surface. Standard coatings that cure in the air without this technique won't establish a strong enough mechanical bond. 
The Aqua Mix StonEndure Sealer Finish is a good illustration of this technology in action. It makes use of state-of-the-art thermoplastic resins, which, when buffed with a high-speed machine, develop a strong mechanical bond, therefore producing a long-lasting sealer finish with an extremely high gloss that is very similar to the original. These kinds of items have been developed to function well in situations with heavy traffic and significant wear, much like porcelain itself. "Since my porcelain tends to become dirty, I have to make sure it's sealed!" This is a remark that is made extremely often. However, in many instances, this is just not the case. As I've already said, the primary objective of porcelain sealing is to prevent the material from absorbing substances that may ultimately cause it to become discolored. However, since these sealers penetrate the surface, they do not provide any protection to the real surface, and the statement is referring to surface soiling in the vast majority of instances. The body of porcelain used to be uniformly filled, or homogenous, as it is more often known now. Nevertheless, many additional processes are used in modern times, such as glazed, roll feed, and double charged, to mention a few. In addition, there is a wide variety of surface textures, the majority of which are produced by pressing the tile body with plastic dyes before the tile is fired. The majority of the time, the difficulties that are referred to in our statement may be traced back to these different textures. 
When porcelain is used in a car dealership or garage, a typical complaint is that tire markings from cars are extremely readily transferred onto the tile, but they are difficult to erase. This is because porcelain is porous. The customer then believes that the issue may be fixed by using a sealer. However, in the majority of instances, it is the extremely fine surface texture that is typical of the majority of porcelain that is abrading the tire and lodging the rubber particles in the very tiny microscopic pores of the tile. This is because porcelain has a very fine surface texture. It is a complaint that is common with porcelain. It is extremely common for there to be minor quantities of grout haze remaining on the tile surface following the installation of the tile, which further complicates the situation. Rather than using a sealer, the remedy to this issue is to clean and preserve the porcelain carefully. Wet mopping alone is not sufficient for maintaining the majority of porcelain surfaces. The surface's signature tiny pattern necessitates regular cleaning using a heavy-duty alkaline cleanser and an abrasive pad, such as the Scotchbrite brand manufactured by 3M. Conclusion There is no doubt that the topic of whether or not it is necessary to seal porcelain is now a real question. The question might be phrased as "do you need to seal porcelain?" When porcelain was initially produced, it did not have this characteristic. The only significant problems at that time were about upkeep. The term "porcelain" can no longer be defined using the same technical and performance standards as it was when it was first developed because new market requirements and an increase in the number of porcelain manufacturers around the world have made this impossible. The term "porcelain" is now used to refer to a material with a significantly wider variety of performance characteristics, some of which can unquestionably be enhanced by the application of superior sealants. In light of this, the response to the question "do I need to seal porcelain?" is no longer an unequivocal "no"! The question that has to be asked is "which sort of product is your porcelain." The answer should become clear after doing a few simple tests and having a conversation with your provider.
💰 Tenfold your income 💎