Quartzite countertops are synthetic compounds made by man. They have quartz as the base material which forms at least 90 percent of its composition. Quartzite is made from ground quartz and blended with resins, synthetic fibers and polymers. They come in amazing hues and patterns as they can be mixed with pigments and chemicals. Once solid, Quartzite offers excellent strength and polished surface finish. Quartzite is similar to granite in structural durability and has a freckled look owing to the presence of coarse quartzite. For smoother surface, finely ground quartzite has to be used. They can be cut into perfectly rectangular slabs and they offer uniform setting. Modern day fabricators can use advanced tooling to cut and lay out the building blocks which can be used as countertops and sinks. The chip items can be used as paver blocks in swimming pools and bathroom floorings to get a more aesthetic look and also achieve a green environment owing to zero wastage. Let us find out the top 3 reasons why Indian Quartzite is gaining popularity.
1. Blend of natural Quartz and Synthetic polymers
Quartz is a naturally occurring material,
mostly occurring in the sands and ocean floors. Quartzite has the combined
property of quartz and sandstone. They are fused under great pressure and heat.
The underlying layers of sandstone is filled with the particles of quartz and
they form a glue like structure giving a more compact structure. Quartzite is
harder than quartz and is resistant to compression. Heat and water have no
effect on its surface and it is also resistant to tremendous amount of force
applied directly on it. On Mohs scale, Quartzite scores 7. Diamond is the
hardest with a score of 10 while talc is the softest at 1. Granite has a
reasonably fair hardness score of 6.5. This highlights that quartzite is a
better option in any case when compared to sandstone, slate and granite.
2. Simple cleaning and maintenance
Quartzite, just like other natural
stone items, must be protected from the usual enemies. Quartzite gets etched
when acid or oil stains the surface. Most kitchen countertops are made of
quartzite. It is commonly used for sinks and bathroom fits as well, owing to
their great artistic look. India and Brazil are the largest producers and
exporters of the Quartzite stone. The pricing of the quartzite stone largely
depends on the color, pattern and strength of the slabs.
3. Natural cracks that can be healed
Protection and maintenance of the
quartzite are similar to granite. It has a little issue with water absorption
as they can get stained internally and then crack from inside. Larger crystal build
up and construction of quartzite depends on the purity of the quartz particles
used. In addition to the construction, the amount of silica also plays a big
role in maintaining its position as the superior product compared to granite. In
some cases, the quartzite structure might have natural cracks owing to the
pressure and heat applied during the process. The greater the space between the layers,
rougher would be the surface. It can be reduced by machining, but by adding an
extra bit of polymer and synthetic resin.
Indian Quartzite is rising as a
star in the league of neo-synthetic building blocks made of naturally occurring
stones.
