Engineered quartz. Description

Engineered quartz is a kind of engineered stone made of natural quartz sand with addition of polymer resins and pigment dyes.

Engineered quartz is manufactured as plates, which are usually called slabs.

determine the following formula: 

• 92-95% of quartz chippings and silica powder, 
• 5-7% of synthetic resins,
• 1 % of color pigment.

Resins act as a bonding agent while pigment dyes paint the mass with the necessary colors. Engineered quartz’s hardness is comparable to granite because of high content of natural quartz. Stone-cutting, polishing, and grinding machines and other equipment is needed to manufacture products of engineered quartz just as it is needed to process hard natural minerals and rocks.

Engineered quartz’s resistance to mechanical damage and wear resistance is not inferior to granite.

Functionality of items made of engineered quartz is notably higher when compared to granite, marble and other natural stones. The secret is in complete absence of pores, small cracks and voids invisible to the eye, characteristic of all natural stones. Homogenous and nonporous structure of engineered quartz is impervious to dirt, dyes and moisture, which prevents development of microorganisms and mildew.

Items made of engineered quartz, as opposed to marble, granite, and travertine do not need special pastes for being cared for. All contaminations and stains are easy to remove with a sponge and nonabrasive detergent.

Surface of engineered quartz boasts noble natural shine of natural stone.

Chopped gangue quartz is the main component for production of engineered quartz. Quartz chippings are washed, dried and sorted by fraction depending on their size.

In order to obtain a homogenous material without microvoids and pores, chippings are mixed with quartz powder. After adding pigment dyes and resin, the resulting mixture undergoes vibration compaction, next, through exposure to high temperature, the resin polymerizes. Cooled down and hardened slab is then sent for sizing, after which it is being grinded and polished.

All slabs undergo an inspection to detect manufacturing defects.

Factory polishing of slabs can result in matt, semiglossy, and glossy surfaces to them. There are also collections with relief surface of slabs, ornamental design and patterns.

By experimenting with the size of the chippings and different pigment additives, manufacturers of engineered quartz obtain various colors and decors of this material. Interesting results are obtained by using particles of natural stone (e.g., agate, granite, and marble), brass, blue malachite, mother of pearl, mirrors, tinted glass. Color palette, complying with modern design tendencies, is an important competitive advantage of certain trademark.

Engineered quartz became a popular material for producing tabletops and as a lining material as well. Quartz slabs are used for lining hygiene facilities in residential and public buildings, for designing halls and showrooms, offices, and subway stations, hotels and restaurants. Durability and extraordinary wear resistance of engineered quartz enable its usage for lining floors and steps in airports and stations.

Kitchen tabletops and islands with integrated quartz wash basins, bar counters, window sills, and floors are the most popular items to be manufactured from engineered quartz.

From the design point of view, engineered quartz is as attractive and beautiful as natural stones like marble, granite, and travertine. Oftentimes engineered quartz’s decors are so perfect that it is visually indistinguishable from natural stone.

Let us have a look at the most popular brands of engineered quartz.

Manufacturing company: Caesarstone

Country of production: Israel

Сaesarstone is the first manufacturer of engineered quartz for working surfaces. As of today, engineered quartz by Сaesarstone is manufactured on two factories equipped with modern automated lines. Production output amounts to over 2 million square meters of engineered quartz a year.

Сaesarstone’s collections, in addition to traditional design, comprises unique slabs created using sections of semiprecious natural stones: agates, amethyst, fossilized wood, tiger’s eye, white quartz and others (Concetto collection). This unparalleled material is made to order.

Engineered quartz Сaesarstone is delivered with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

30 3050 1440

20 3050 1440

13 3050 1440

Country of production: PRC

Avant Quartz is an example of a high-quality product manufactured on a modern factory in PRC. 

Popular colors and decors are presented in the marble and granite collections Avant Quartz. The Elite line is in a class of its own in the marble collection. These are the slabs with the pattern of the famous Italian marble.

Engineered quartz Avant Quartz is manufactured with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

20 3200 1600

30 3200 1600

20 3050 1440

30 3050 1440

Manufacturing company: Vinaconex Advanced Compound Stone Joint Stock Company

Country of production: Vietnam

Vicostone is manufactured in Vietnam, its production started in 2004.

Engineered quartz Vicostone is delivered with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

30 3050 1440

20 3050 1440

Manufacturing company: Samsung Cheil Industries Inc

Country of production: South Korea

Engineered quartz Radianz is manufactured on Samsung’s factories. Production itself was started in 2009.

Engineered quartz Radianz is delivered with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

30 3000 1400

20 3000 1400

12 3000 1400

Manufacturing company: Cosentino S.A.

Country of production: Spain

Silestone started its production of engineered stone in Spain in 1990.

Silestone’s slabs are produced in two standard sizes: Normal and Jumbo.

Engineered quartz Silestone is delivered with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

Normal 30 3000 1400

Jumbo 30 3250 1600

Normal 20 3000 1400

Jumbo 20 3250 1600

Normal 12 3000 1400

Jumbo 12 3250 1600

Manufacturing company: Quartzforms

Country of production: Germany

German concern Quartzforms possesses one of the most up-to-date and advanced factories for producing quartz agglomerate. The most recent developments and state-of-the-art technologies are used in production – this is how the German standards of high quality are maintained. 

Quartzforms slabs are delivered with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

30 3000 1400

20 3000 1400

12 3000 1400

Manufacturing company: Hanwha L.& Corporation

Country of production: South Korea

South Korean concern Hanwha L.& Corporation is one of the oldest manufacturers of quartz agglomerate in the world.

Natural travertine, and white marble patterns, distinctive texturized patterns etc. belong to the Hanstone palette.

Hanstone slabs are delivered with following dimensions:

Thickness, mm Length, mm Width, mm

30 3050 1400

20 3050 1400

12 3050 1400

Engineered quartz just as the natural one is quite an expensive material for producing tabletops and other items of interior design. However, this price tag means high quality and durability of this material; that is exactly why the demand for engineered quartz is continuously high. A tendency of the natural stone being replaced by engineered quartz is observed for manufacturing tabletops, bar counters, window sills, and other items.