Outdoor porcelain tiles

[edit] Introduction

There are several types of porcelain tiles that are suitable for outdoor applications. Some of these products have properties that protect the durability of the coating under these conditions.

[edit] Frost resistance

The main indicator of exterior porcelain tiles is the frost resistance of the material. This characteristic is determined through a series of tests. The essence of the test consists in the process of alternating freezing-thawing of the sample and studying the consequences of this effect.

The national certification procedure foresees 50 freeze-thaw cycles, but in practice, porcelain tiles should be able to withstand more than 200 cycles. Therefore, it should suitable for safe placement on the street.

The material itself should work in a temperature range from frost down to -50°C.

In addition, there is are special frost-resistant outdoor porcelain tiles which are suitable for laying in regions with a severe climate.

[edit] Water absorption

The high frost resistance of outdoor porcelain tiles is due to its low moisture absorption. The water absorption of this finishing material does not exceed 0.05%, which is a very low rate.

The destruction of the material occurs after the penetration of moisture into its pores, which begins to freeze, increases in volume and destroys the structure. Therefore, it is the low moisture absorption that provides the coating with high frost resistance.

[edit] Wear resistance

The main criterion of porcelain tiles used on the street is resistance to abrasion. The wear resistance of outdoor porcelain tiles is determined by three criteria: hardness, resistance to deep wear and resistance to wear.

For outdoor use, it is sufficient to use class 7 porcelain tiles according to the Mohs hardness scale. The Mohs scale designates the hardness class of a material from one to 10 (where one is talc and 10 is diamond).

According to EN 154 (European standard), the tests are carried out with a corundum roller. Depending on the speed of this roller on the surface of the porcelain tiles, which has not caused visible damage, the material is assigned a certain abrasion resistance class (PEI I - PEI V).

The deep wear resistance index is determined by the volume of material removed from the tile during a special test. For outdoor porcelain tiles, this figure is in the range of 110-140 mm. According to EN 102, the limit for floor coverings must not exceed 250 mm.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Hardness.
• Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
• Porcelain.
• Porcelain tiles.
• Types of flooring.