Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are the most common hard surface tiles in the market.
Although these two look almost the same, they are manufactured differently.
Ceramic tiles are basically have a mixture of clay that are hard pressed into different shapes and baked at high temperature which makes them hard.
Ceramic tiles may be glazed on top or left unglazed depending their intended look.
Ceramic tiles are very durable and cost effective, and their ease of maintenance makes them a popular choice of floor covering, as well as wall and countertop covering.
Ceramic tiles are made in an unlimited shapes, colors and sizes.
Porcelain tiles are by far the hardest of any manmade flooring materials today. Manufacturing of Porcelain tiles are different from ceramic tiles.
Porcelain tiles are formed and pressed much harder than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles are made under the range of 6,000 pounds per square inch and baked in the kilns in about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. While ceramic tiles endure less pressure and are baked in about 1,800 Fahrenheit degrees.
The difference in the pressure during the manufacturing process gives the both products different properties, which obviously makes porcelain tiles a lot denser, and much more resistant to chipping and breakage. The process also makes porcelain tiles less humidity absorbent than ceramic tiles.
According to the guidelines of international standards for porcelain tiles, for a product to qualify as porcelain tile, the rate of its humidity absorption must not exceed 0.5%.
The low point moisture absorbency of porcelain tile makes them a very suitable product for interior and exterior application in all climates.
While ceramic tiles normally absorb around 3% moisture, which makes them not such a good choice for exterior applications.
Porcelain tiles consist of approximately 50% feldspar, and 50% various high-quality light firing ball clays. The mixture provides a very light color body, thus allowing it to accept wide range of colorful dyes and prints to penetrate through the body of the product rather than just the glazed surface of it. Therefore, in a rare case of chipping a porcelain tile, the damaged part would not be as apparent as a ceramic tile would be. These inherent properties of porcelain tile makes it a superior product in terms or value, durability and pattern, compared to ceramic tile.
Today's thanks to very advanced manufacturing processes, both ceramic and porcelain tiles are made in unlimited sizes, dimensions, patterns and designs. They both, especially porcelain tiles can duplicate the look and feel of real natural stone tiles such as slate, travertine, marble, granite or limestone.
The major noteworthy properties of ceramic and porcelain tiles may be summarized as:
