Kinds of an artificial stone and their application in building

The use of stone decoration elements is a very popular phenomenon. The building looks solid, the life of stone ornamental parts is very long. The only drawback, in fact, is the high price. Artificial stone is an excellent solution for a limited budget.

It is much cheaper than natural, but, at the same time, it is not inferior to a natural analogue either for decorative qualities or for physical properties. And sometimes, synthetic stone even surpasses in its qualities natural. So, for example, it is 1.5 times lighter than natural. Moreover, in the structure of natural stone cracks and chips are found, which is not typical for artificial materials.

Artificial stone is a composite material obtained from metal oxides and acrylic compounds and simulates a natural stone, similar to it visually and according to its physical characteristics. Materials of artificial origin are often used for interior decoration and for exterior decoration of buildings.

Interior elements that perform from artificial stone

• Tables and countertops.
• Sculptural compositions.
• Fountains.
• Benches.
• Window sills. Mosaics and wall panels.
• Fireplaces.
• Decorative fences.
• Tile for sidewalks.
• Wall planks.
• Bar counters.
• Sinks.
• Panels for wall finishing, etc.

Advantages of artificial stone

• Impact resistance.
• No pores or cracks in the texture.
• Light weight.
• Long service life.
• Hydrophobicity.
• Resistance to temperature changes.
• Resistance to the influence of chemically active substances.
• Ease of installation.
• Low price.
• Aesthetics.

Disadvantages of synthetic stone

• Exposure to the influence of abrasive cleaners.
• Friability, which complicates the transport process( typical only for some types).

Types of artificial stone

Methods for the production of artificial stone

Firing method for the production of

This method involves the formation of a stone from a multicomponent mixture with the subsequent influence of high temperatures on it. Derivatives obtained from baked clay( ceramic) are used in the construction industry to create pavements, erect walls, create foundations and ceilings, for laying fireplaces and stoves, smoke ventilation ducts, for decorative flooring and walls.

Kinds of roasting( ceramic) building materials

• Products with increased strength( solid).Suitable for erecting walls, paving bridges, etc.
• Combined( porous-holey).It is advisable to use them when isolating heated surfaces, as well as for arranging rooms inside and for finishing the external facades of houses with moderate humidity( but the walls, anyway, are better plastered and veneered, in view of the presence of increased hydrophilic properties of this material) and for filling the skeletons of high-rise buildings.
• Hollow. This type of building materials is made of extremely clean and more plastic clays of exceptional quality. Hollow bricks, as a rule, are fired at higher temperatures than solid ones. Such fired products are also used for building walls and partitions, for filling the skeletons of high-rise buildings. It is advisable to choose such a hollow brick for the laying of concealed wiring, telephone and other communication cables.

1. Hollow( multi-buckled) brick. In such bricks, cavities perpendicular to the working surface may have different shapes. Hollow brick is much lighter than the standard one.
2. Wall ceramic blocks. The dimensions of such stone blocks are several times larger than the dimensions of standard bricks. The voids in the ceramic blocks can be internal and through. Smooth side surfaces sometimes make grooves, which greatly facilitates the subsequent installation process.

Non-flammable way of producing

This method is based on natural thickening of the formed raw material, or its solidification in special chambers under the influence of heat and steam. Another way is to fill the incandescent material in a mold.

Kinds of artificial stones obtained by the non-burning method

Silicate building materials

The basic raw material for the production of this kind of materials is a mixture of quartz sand, water and lime. Silicate materials are of five degrees of strength( 75, 100, 125, 200, 250).Silicate materials are used in all the same construction processes as ceramic ones. The difference lies in the unacceptability of using silicate products in rooms with high humidity( bathrooms, swimming pools, saunas, gyms, etc.).You can not use them for finishing heated surfaces( stoves, fireplaces, etc.).By its structure and dimensions, silicate building materials are classified as follows:

1. Bricks single 65x120x250( solid and with porous aggregates).
2. Thick bricks 88х120х250( solid and with porous aggregates).
3. Bricks hollow 138х120х250.
4. Building blocks, silicate, concrete. Such blocks greatly simplify the process of creating foundations, walls and partitions. There is such a dimensional and texture gradation of these products:

• whole - 188h190h390;
• longitudinal halves - 188х90х390;
• partitions - 188h90h590.

Concrete materials

The basic mixture of such artificial stone building materials consists of an astringent substance, aggregates, water and additives. This mixture is easily mixed, quickly thickens and agglomerates. To strengthen strength indicators, concrete can be reinforced with steel or synthetic fibers.

By type, the binder used is divided into:

• Gypsum.
• Cement.
• Silicate.
• Polymerconcrete.
• Asphaltic concrete.

The fillers involved in the concrete production process( gravel, sand, expanded clay, pumice, gravel, slag, rakushnyak, etc.) must be cleaned from third-party impurities, such as humus and clay.

Kinds of stone, the most popular in the construction sector

Porcelain tiles

Strong material, resistant to both high and low temperatures, visually more like glass ceramics than stone. It is produced by the pressing method, under the influence of vibration and high pressure with subsequent calcination. Basic raw materials: clay of several species, spar of the field, mineral additives and colorants. Polished, glazed, glazed, embossed, matt, glossy, structured tiles are often chosen for the decoration of walls and floors, for the erection of ventilated facades, etc.

The composition is:

1. Homogeneous porcelain stoneware with a uniformly colored texture that retains brightness over time and practicallyabrasion.
2. Painted porcelain tiles, the structure of which is composed of two interlayers. The first is basic, the second( thinner) is pigmented. This method of creating a material allows you to reduce the expense of quite expensive coloring pigments.
3. Glazed porcelain stoneware is the same decorative tile, only on porcelain tiles.

Agglomerates( conglomerates)

Perfect imitations of natural materials such as jasper, granite, marble, onyx, shale, lapis lazuli, etc. Durable, frost-resistant materials resistant to deformation effects. The main constituents of the conglomerates are polyester resin, filler( marble chips, quartz sand, granite, limestone etc.) and dyes. The disadvantages of agglomerates include susceptibility to abrasion, the influence of ultraviolet and acids. This material is not suitable for the arrangement of "warm" floors, t. The resin, which is the base component, can melt under the action of high temperatures. True, today special conglomerates have been invented for such floors, where resin is replaced with cement. Therefore, various products from agglomerates are especially popular in construction. Elements of decor, countertops, bathrooms, various facings( facades, walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, swimming pools and bathrooms).Here is not a complete list of areas of use of this type of artificial stone.

Artificial stone based on concrete

The most popular material for interior and facade decoration. The main components of such raw materials are cement( ordinary or portland), sand, plasticizers, filler( expanded clay, pumice, ceramic crumb), reinforcing agents, hydrophobizators and colorants.

Adhesive recommended for decoration of the room with artificial stone

For interior decoration

• Cement based tile adhesive.
• Acrylic sealant.
• "Liquid nails".

For external work

• Frost-resistant and moisture-resistant cement based adhesive.
• Frost-resistant glue "liquid nails".

The most popular offers from artificial stone manufacturers

CORIAN

CORIAN artificial stone, created by DuPONT, as a material that is ideal for domestic work surfaces. And it certainly came from the manufacturer. Characteristic features can be called a wide range of colors, the possibility of processing, the absence of visible seams. CORIAN - one of the types of artificial stone, widely used for the production of window sills and table tops, as well as for decorative finishing of kitchen walls, bathroom and other utility rooms. This material is often used for construction works and in public places( laboratories, gyms, medical clinics, beauty salons, cafeterias, railway stations, hotels, etc.)

Polystone

Artificial stone Polystone is an effective and strong analog of natural stone with improved physical properties, obtained from acrylic resin with the addition of aluminum hydroxide and dye substances. This combination provides a homogeneous texture without cracks and voids, i. E.the material does not absorb water and odors, does not rot and does not mold. This means that its use in places with a high level of humidity is completely justified. That is why, Polystone is recommended by experts for decoration of premises in hospitals, places of public catering, hairdressing saloons, etc. Such an artificial stone can be easily processed( polished and cut), does not form rough joints when docking, it perfectly matches with wood and metal, which makes it possible to create exclusive elements for interior decor. Polystone is resistant to weak solutions of acids and alkalis, ultraviolet, as well as household chemicals. It is completely safe, non-radioactive, does not emit an odor.

Montelli

Another artificial acrylic stone from DuPONT, which constantly strives to expand its consumer sector, developing new, more affordable products. So, Montelli is a cheaper analogue of the Corian stone described above. The decline in prices is due to Chinese production, where cheaper hired labor is involved than in the US.At the same time, this is a fairly sturdy surface, the damage of which can be restored by grinding. Excellent hygienic characteristics and affordable price Montelli allow you to use it in bathrooms and kitchens of seniors.