Since its introduction in 2007, glazed tiles have quickly gained favor in the market with their crystal clear, varying imitation stone textures and brightly colored decorative effects. From 2008 to 2020, various ceramic companies have carried out technical transformation of production lines (especially polished tile production lines) and converted to produce glazed tiles with higher profits and added value. Data from the "2020 Ceramic Industry Long March V - China Tile Production Capacity Survey" show that glazed tiles account for 27.5% of the national production capacity, surpassing other ceramic tile categories such as porcelain tiles and antique tiles, becoming the well-deserved "King of Floor Tiles".
Data source: "2020 Ceramic Industry Long March V - China Ceramic Tile Production Capacity Survey ”
After nearly 14 years of rapid development, polished tiles, the former king of floor tiles, have been dethroned and become the market's favorite. Why do glazed tiles firmly occupy the top spot in the ceramic tile category? Today, Mr. Zhongtao will discuss it with you!
1
What are glazed tiles?
The birth of glazed tiles is closely related to polished tiles, which is why many people often compare glazed tiles with polished tiles. In fact, glazed tiles can be considered as an upgraded version of polished tiles.
Before understanding glazed tiles, let’s first get to know polished tiles. Polished tiles are bright tiles that are formed after grinding and polishing the surface of the full-body tile body. The surface layer has a 3-6mm micro-powder layer, which is relatively non-slip and wear-resistant. Its main drawback is that it is not resistant to dirt or stains. This is because the polished ceramic tile surface produces small pores that are not easily noticeable to the naked eye, making it easy to seep dirt and difficult to clean.
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The emergence of polished tiles has enhanced the practical performance of full-body tiles, but the problem of single color tilesThere was no fundamental solution, so glazed tiles came into being. Glaze is added to the glazed tiles during the production process. After being fired at high temperature, a transparent glaze layer of approximately 0.5mm will appear on the surface. The design and color no longer depend on the base body, but use printing or inkjet and other processes, which can more flexibly design the pattern texture, which gives more possibilities for the design and color of the ceramic tiles.
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Roughly speaking, glazed tiles combine the advantages of polished tiles and antique tiles, with low water absorption and further optimized material performance. Thanks to the glaze decoration process and the effect of the transparent glaze on the surface, the texture and color are richer and the gloss is higher. However, due to the thin glaze layer, it is relatively not wear-resistant.
2
Why can glazed tiles dominate the market?
From the above, it can be generally seen that the performance contrast between polished tiles, which are non-slip and wear-resistant, and have a single color, and glazed tiles, which are rich in colors and easy to scratch, are extremely obvious. Since its introduction, glazed tiles have quickly occupied the market with their rich colors, textures and beautiful decorative effects, gradually replacing the dominance of polished tiles. However, as the product market share gradually expands, problems such as water ripples on the surface of glazed tiles and low wear resistance were once criticized by the industry and consumers.
For this reason, many glaze companies have begun to launch diamond glazes, which to a large extent solve the flatness and other problems caused by water ripples in traditional fully polished glazes, and greatly improve the physical properties of polished glazed tile products. Since then, glazed tile manufacturers have carried out technical upgrades to their products to varying degrees, launching glazed tile products such as super flat glaze, diamond crystal, and thick glazed tiles. Through the dual improvement of technology and texture, the added value of the products has been increased.
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At the same time, the product defect of low wear resistance of glazed tiles has been gradually solved.
It is understood that ordinary glazed tiles on the market are wear-resistant and wear-resistant.The wear resistance is generally at level 2-3 (750-1500 rpm). Most companies with strict control will control the quality at 6000 rpm, that is, the wear resistance is 0.25. It is precisely because of the low wear resistance of ordinary glazed tiles that glazed tiles are not allowed to be used in many engineering projects such as some public places. However, as the industry focuses on this pain point, many glazed tile manufacturers continue to improve their technology and introduce imported wear-resistant glazes, gradually improving the wear resistance of glazed tiles. For example, Dajiuluo Super Wear-resistant Ceramics, a brand in the industry that focuses on the "super wear-resistant" ceramic tiles, uses the original "super wear-resistant diamond glaze" national patented technology to increase the wear resistance of marble tiles to above level 4 (2100- 12000 rpm).
Abrasion resistance test of Bighorn Deer super wear-resistant ceramic tiles< /span>
In addition, after more than ten years of development, the surface technology of glazed tiles has achieved rapid development. Many ceramic companies are constantly looking for ways to upgrade and innovate glazed tiles through the superposition of multiple processes and the application of materials such as dry granules and special inks; some companies have introduced original Italian product designs, which have greatly improved the texture and texture, further enhancing the glazed tiles. Brick decorative effect.
From product fidelity and texture effects to physical properties and decorative effects, glazed tiles undoubtedly meet both the aesthetic and practical needs of consumers, so it is reasonable for them to dominate the market for many years.
3
What is the reason why glazed tiles far exceed other categories?
Ceramic tile categories are updating rapidly. Glazed tiles have been developed for many years, and competitors have been emerging one after another. So, what is the secret that has always kept glazed tiles far ahead of other ceramic tile categories? The most important reason is cost-effectiveness.
The biggest competitor of glazed tiles is porcelain glazed tiles. In 2016, Nobel porcelain glazed tiles were officially launched. Since then, nearly 30 ceramic companies in Foshan have launched porcelain glazed tiles. Many companies in the northern market have also promoted it, and the industry status of glazed tiles has been shaken for the first time.
From a technical point of view, the main process of porcelain tile polishing is inkjet infiltration, with the surface made of porcelain material, printed and decorated, high temperatureSintered and surface polished. Compared with glazed tiles whose surface is made of glass material and whose base is closer to ceramic, it has higher hardness and density, higher wear resistance, and more natural and lifelike texture. It can be said that porcelain glazed tiles combine the advantages of polished tiles and glazed tiles. They have the wear resistance of polished tiles and the texture and texture of glazed tiles.
Countertop made of Nobel "full body" porcelain polished tiles< /span>
In 2020, Nobel achieved a technological breakthrough and launched "all-through" porcelain tiles with all-in textures, all-materials, and all-in-one colors. This move undoubtedly further broadens the application fields of ceramic tiles, but the decorative effect that is 100% close to stone has positioned porcelain polished tiles in the field of high-end decoration, which cannot be accommodated due to the high-cost production process and raw materials. After years of development, the cost of glazed tiles has been controlled within a reasonable range. Ceramic companies can even make porcelain glazed tiles with lower water absorption and greater competitive advantages to seize part of the high-end decoration market. Therefore, it is not without reason that the market of polished glazed tiles has been booming for many years.
In the past two years, slate, which has taken the industry by storm, has a wider range of applications and has expanded to the home furnishing field. Its main battlefield is not traditional wall and floor tiles. Throughout the entire ceramic industry, glazed tiles have had no rivals for a long time. As for whether there will be bigger competitors for glazed tiles in the future, let’s wait and see!
(Author: Sitao)
