VITRIFICATION
What is vitrification and why is it important?
Explainer
Vitrification is a process where we physically change the structure of the clay, closing the gaps between particles and creating a strong, dense and impervious to water product. 100% of our ceramic products are vitrified and we believe it to be essential for professional product to ensure a strong and food safe product.
How do we achieve vitrification?
If you were to look under a microscope at a non-vitrified piece of porcelain or stoneware there would be gaps between the clay particles that over time would allow for water absorption.
Our unique recipe of performance materials, which have been materially engineered using science and developed over years of experience, combined with a firing temperature of up to 1200 degrees celcius closes these gaps reducing water from getting into the products.
This ensures our ceramics pass the vitrified hotelware standard and produces one of the strongest ceramic tableware bodies in the world.
This image demonstrates how much water can be absorbed into a retail plate compared to a plate which passes the UK standard that all of ours adhere to.
Why is it important?
Water absorption weakens the physical structure affecting durability. Using vitrification we strengthen the particle structure which means a much more durable product so fewer breakages, chips and therefore replacements.
Vitrification also offers less opportunity for bacteria to be absorbed into the ceramics through liquid, therefore creating a more food safe environment.
How do we test vitrification?
We test vitrification of our products everyday, throughout the manufacturing process. We carry out over 10,000 tests a year to ensure consistency in our own UKAS accredited laboratory onsite.
We test vitrification to 2 standards
- BS EN 4034 British Standard, European Approved Vitrified Hotelware
- BS EN 1217:1998 British Standard, European Approved Water Absorption
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