Marca Corona Ceramics: FAQ
Technical questions
Compared to other types of material for flooring and covering, tiles in porcelain stoneware are able to guarantee greater resistance to environmental stresses and those due to daily use. They are resistant to abrasion, to atmospheric agents, to chemical substances, to stains and also to fire.
Marca Corona offers a vast choice of effects, colours, formats and finishes to meet all aesthetic and design requirements: regardless of the chosen surface, every slab maintains its beauty over time and is extremely easy to clean.
Discover all the advantages of porcelain stoneware in this brief tutorial video.
To meet the demands of outdoor projects, Marca Corona recommends using porcelain stoneware tiles, a frost-proof material, resistant to atmospheric agents and treading. Specifically, the surfaces with a structured grip finish guarantee an excellent anti-slip quality and are therefore the most suitable for installation in external areas.
Marca Corona also offers HiThick, the Line of 20mm tiles dedicated to exteriors: the HiThick collections are able to combine the superior resistance of thickened stoneware with an unmistakable Made in Italy style. Discover in this brief tutorial video how to choose the most appropriate tiles for your external project.
Discover in this brief tutorial video how to choose the most appropriate tiles for your external project.
Porcelain stoneware, in its various surface finishes, is composed of a mixture of clays, sand and other non-metallic natural substances, of various dimensions and colours. Stoneware is a “vitrified” material with superior technical characteristics and with a very low rate of absorption. The firing process at extremely high temperatures (1000 – 1300 °C) transforms the prestigious raw materials into tiles resistant to frost, to acid attacks and to mechanical stresses; they are impermeable, hygienic and characterized by refined aesthetics. The adjective "porcelain" derives from the use of a white clay that is also used for the production of porcelain.
Full-body coloured stoneware refers to tiles that have the same configuration of material and colour on the surface and in the internal sections. The firing of the product is aimed at reaching the state of vitrification with which the tile acquires a level of water absorption which is less than 0.5% (absorption near to zero and ensuring resistance to frost). Thanks to their compactness and homogeneity, these products are also suitable for use in environments subject to intense stresses.
Glazed porcelain stoneware refers to vitrified ceramic surfaces (water absorption less than 0.5%) with internal composition of a neutral colour: the subsequent application of a surface layer of glazing makes it possible to obtain very effective and varied graphic designs. Resistant to stains, chemical attacks and very easy to clean, floorings in glazed porcelain stoneware can be used both for installations in internal and external environments (once the right anti-slip coefficient has been identified).
Ceramics in monoporous white paste are composed of a mix of raw materials of extremely high quality and purity: the white colour of the paste obtained makes it possible to highlight the brilliance and transparency of the colours applied in the surfaces, obtaining perfect colour uniformity. Used for internal coverings, the collections in monoporous white paste combine impeccable aesthetic qualities with hygienic practicality and the characteristic of being very pleasant to the touch.
At the production stage, the surface of the ceramic tiles can be subjected to various treatments and processes that can result in variations to roughness, shine and anti-slip properties.
There are 5 main surface finishes:
• Natural, the most widely used. In this case, the tile is not subjected to any processes after the firing stage. Regardless of the appearance, more or less smooth and more or less opaque, these surfaces are suitable for any kind of setting, and are especially popular for kitchen and bathroom walls.
• Textured. The surface of these tiles is generally rougher, giving them better anti-slip properties and making them more suitable for use outdoors.
• Semi-polished, semi-glossy or lapped. In these cases, the surface is subjected to a mechanical process that makes it smoother and more glossy, thus enhancing the appearance of the material and making it ideal for residential interior design projects. The glossy surface effect, deliberately moderate and uneven, offers a more faithful reproduction of the experience of natural polished stones.
• Polished or glossy: surface obtained by passing an abrasive millstone over the surface to polish it and obtain a “mirror effect”.
• scratch or bush-hammered: very rough surface, with a rustic, uneven appearance, for use mainly in outdoor areas subject to high levels of stress, such as terraces, porticoes and courtyards. Obtained with mechanical processes that are used to obtain the aesthetic effects typical of work carried out with chisels or metal tips.
Marca Corona’s tiles in porcelain stoneware have characteristics of resistance, durability and aesthetic stability superior to those of many alternative materials. Constant technological development and production experience lead to a wide and versatile range of products, suitable for any type of environment and use.