Qualities and virtues of ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are variously sized slabs (with sides from a few centimetres to more than one metre, and about 5 mm to 20-25 mm in thickness),derived from mixes of clay, sand and other natural substances that are fired at very high temperatures. This mixture of raw materials determines the ceramic nature of tiles.
Ceramic materials are very ancient products, but they are still used today in the most advanced and modern applications.
The general properties of ceramic material are:
*hardness
*rigidity
*fragility
*inertia
The hardness, resulting from reactions which occur during the firing phase, is associated to the compact structure and the high level of internal cohesion, while the nature of the chemical bonds gives the ceramic tile very high resistance against breakage. They are able to support high loads without deforming or bending: they are therefore rigid.
Another property connected with the ceramic nature of tiles is their fragility, which defines their behaviour in the event of impacts.
Moderately resistant to impact, the ceramic tile does not deform or bend, in contrast to ductile materials. Moreover, the high-temperature of the ceramic production process creates stable compounds, practically resistant to any kind of reaction with other substances. Ceramic tiles are therefore inert, that is, insoluble and unalterable in contact with water, and with most chemical substances. Even the flames of a fire cannot alter their composition.
A piece of advice to finish: it's necessary to bear in mind that the undisputed qualities of the ceramic tile, in particular its mechanical and chemical resistance, can only be fully exploited if the tiling - the flooring and the wall covering - has been correctly designed and implemented.
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