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| Customer Service |
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| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ENAMELED PRODUCTS |
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What are enameled ceramics?
What issues should I consider when choosing enameled ceramics?
What are the differences between single and double cooking?
How are enameled ceramics classified?
What features give a product more or less absorption?
What does PEI mean?
How is the the testing process?
How is superficial hardness measured?
What recommendations should I consider for the positioning of enameled ceramics?
How is a ceramics floor maintained?
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What are enameled ceramics?
Structurally they are a combination of what is called "ceramic biscuit" and glass. When both elements fuse at high temperatures a joining interfase is formed.
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What issues should I consider when choosing enameled ceramics?
Any floor coating is under a lighter or harder wearing. The intensity of wearing is a result of different issues such as superficial hardness (enamel), elastic behavior and specially the demand (transit) exerted over the floor.
The vitrified layer can show superficial wearing as a consequence of an inappropriate utilization given the kind of enamel. That's why ceramics are classified according to the enamel resistance to wearing.
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What are the differences between single and double cooking?
The main difference is the manufacturing process. In the single cooking process crude ceramics are enameled and cooked only once, that means base plus enamel.
According to raw materiales and cooking temperatures the biscuit results less or more porous. In the double cooking, first to cook the body and after to put the glazes. To finish, to cook again.
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How are enameled ceramics classified?
Ceramic materials are classified in four groups according to their water absorption capability:
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CLASSIFICATION |
WATER ABSORPTION (%) |
Glazed Porcelanato |
< 0,5 % |
Ceramic stoneware |
0,50 a 3 |
Ceramic semi-stoneware |
3 a 6 |
Porous stoneware |
> 6 |
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What features give a product more or less absorption?
Absorption is related to three essential features:
A) The composition of the Basic mix.
B) Moulding pressure.
C) Cooking temperature.
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What does PEI mean?
It is a test ruled by IRAM and ISO is normalized and standared and designed specifically to verify the resistance of ceramics-covering enamels. Tested materials are classified in five groups ranging from Group 1 (not recommended for floors) to Group 5 (very heavy transit) as can be seen in the following chart.
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PEI |
Utilization situation |
Kind of utilization definition |
I |
LIGHT TRANSIT |
Environments under light transit with usual footwear, no contact with the outside, hardly exposed to dust carried by footwear, v.g.: bedrooms. |
II |
MODERATE TRANSIT |
Environments under light transit with usual footwear, no contact with the outside, v.g.: bathrooms, inner rooms in familiar homes excepting stairs, kitchens and corridors. |
III |
NORMAL TRANSIT |
Environments under possible wearing caused by friction with dust carried by usual footwear. Familiar homes inner areas in contact with the outside, v.g.: stairs, kitchens, balconies, corridors. |
IV |
HEAVY TRANSIT |
Environments under relatively strong demands, constant circulation and high chances of contact with dust carried by usual footwear. Shared rooms of collective homes, areas in contact with the outside. Excepting rooms under great affluence of people. V.g.: private offices, terraces, hospital rooms. |
V |
VERY HEAVY TRANSIT |
Environments under strong demands, large constant circulation and contact with dust carried by footwear. Banks, hairdressing salons, bars, entrance to hotels. Excepting rooms under transit of unusual elements, golf shoes, shopping car wheels with inappropriate protection. |
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How is the testing process?
It consists in the visual observation of the wearing produced in material samples by different degrees of superficial aggression.
In general, bright enamels, smoothly and very darkly or clearly colored, obtain lower classifications than low-bright or no-bright enamels with neutral color combinations and shades.
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How is superficial hardness measured?
Verification of materials superficial hardness is another usual test.
Such a test consists in using different hardness-graduated striker pins in order to determine which ones can mark the material and which ones cannot. Hardest surfaces receive a #10 degree classification while softer ones rank in a decreasing order till #1 degree.
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Mineral |
Degree |
Talc |
1 |
Plaster |
2 |
Calcite |
3 |
Fluorine |
4 |
Apatite |
5 |
Ortose |
6 |
Quartz |
7 |
Topaz |
8 |
Corundum |
9 |
Diamond |
10 |
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What recommendations should I consider for the positioning of enameled ceramics?
Verify that all packs contain the same tone and caliber. Mix different packs content when positioning.
Positioning with adhesives is suggested. In case the surface to be coated had some defects it should be flattened with traditional mix.
A joint should be made when positioning coats and floors. Such a joint should be no less than approx. 5 mm (0.2 inch) and is aimed to partly eliminate possible tensions produced when building and to compensate little size variations in the ceramics surface.
Dilatation joints are very important too, specially in great surfaces. It is advisable to place a joint each 30 m2 (323 sq. ft.) in internal areas and each 10 m2 (108 sq. ft.) in external ones. The dilatation joint should match the structural one (if any). Dilatation joints are also made where floor and walls meet - they remain hidden under the vertical ceramics.
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How is a ceramics floor maintained?
Once the work is finished eliminate material remains as soon as possible. If some material capable of producing stains is spilled on the floor it is advisable to clean it immediately in order to prevent the material from drying - which makes a later cleaning harder. For daily cleaning we suggest you should use normal detergent diluted in water. Alberdi produces its ceramic coats aimed to guarantee large lifetimes. That's why you should take some care in their utilization and conservation: |
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* Clean frequently.
* Use mats or carpets in order to keep the environment free from abrasive dirt.
* Protect the elements that can be dragged over the ceramic coating.
* Avoid overloads and prevent pointed materials from falling on the floor.
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Note: Control that materials are applied to an appropriate utilization. If you have any doubt suspend positioning and ask or complain to the manufacturer. It is always better to consult.
A simple advise can prevent mistakes and helps to make good choices. |
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