Comparison with other materials

Engineered stone is one of the most durable, technologically and design-wise most sophisticated and world sought-after materials for kitchen worktops.

Technistone® vs.laminated boards

	Technistone®	Laminated boards
BENEFITS	Low water absorption High tensile resistance to staining and mechanical damage          Compact and uniform structure pattern throughout the depth of the slab Easy maintenance	Large selection of colors and designs without the need for impregnation Low price Allows for the possibility of working directly with carpenters
DIS ADVANTAGES	Higher weight higher cost necessity of  processing in a stonemason workshop	Low resistance to scratches Low resistance to chemical damage Absorbency (swelling) Low resistance to mechanical damage Visible joints No possibility of reprocessing

 

Comparison of Technistone® vs.natural granite
 

	Technistone®	Natural granite / granite
BENEFITS	low water absorption High strength Resistance to staining Lower weight uniformity of structure Higher design possibilities	Low Flammability No thermal expansion  Possibility of thicknesses over3 cm
DIS ADVANTAGES	higher thermal expansion higher flammability	higher absorption capacity Lower rigidity lower stain resistance Higher weight Unstable structural uniformity

 

Technistone® vs. natural marble
 

	Technistone®	Natural marble
BENEFITS	High resistance to chemicals (acids) Higher rigidity Low absorbency High strength Higher resistance to stains Lower weight Better structural uniformity Better design options	Lower flammability No thermal expansion Possibility of greater thicknesses over 3 cm
DIS ADVANTAGES	Higher flammability Higher thermal expansion	Lower resistance against chemicals (acids) Higher absorbency Lower strength Low stain resistance Higher weight

 

Comparison Technistone® vs. Ceramics
 

	Technistone®	Ceramics
BENEFITS	High impact resistance High strength and mechanical resistance, low moisture absorption Consistent pattern throughout the thickness of the plate possibility of trimming of the edge processing Possibility of processing beyond 3cm thickness. Possibility of production of sinks / basins flat parts Drip grooves	High abrasion and scratch resistance higher fire reaction class Option of small thicknesses up to 1 cm Low flammability No thermal expansion Higher chemical resistance
DIS ADVANTAGES	Higher thermal expansion Higher flammability coefficient	Low impact resistance Lower abrasive and mechanical resistance Higher absorbency Pattern design possible often only on the surface of the board / decor printing only on the surface Problematic  processing of edges

 

Comparison Technistone® vs. solid surface

	Technistone®	Solid surface
BENEFITS	High impact resistance High abrasive and mechanical resistance Higher reaction to fire class Possibility of thicknesses up to 3 cm Possibility of production of sinks / washbasins from flat parts	Formability Lower weight Possibility of small thickness up to 1 cm Possibility of production of sinks / washbasins in slabs
DIS ADVANTAGES	Higher weight	Low impact resistance Low resistance to abrasion and scratches Lower rigidity and mechanical resistance Thickness up to 19 mm

A precise comparative analysis of the average values of basic physical and mechanical properties of the most frequently used materials for the production of kitchen worktops.

Natural stone - Granite

• granite is a traditional material with good resistance, very commonly used as a building material

General comparison table: Engineered quartz-based stone (ES) / Natural stone - Granite (NG)

Property	Results of hardened quartz-based stone (ES)
chemical resistance	the same(SiO2 is the foundation of both materials)
resistance to abrasion and scratch	same (SiO2 is the foundation of both materials)
Hardness	same (SiO2 is the foundation of both materials)
Water absorption	Better(ES <0.05%, NG 0.1 - 1.6%)
Tensile strength in bending	Higher (ES> 40 MPa, NG <25 MPa)
Flexibility	Better flexibility for the same thickness
Thermal expansion	Worse (higher coefficient)
Stain resistance	Better (lower ES absorption)
Polishing, cutting, machining	Same (SiO2 is the basis of both materials)
Weight	Better (ES is lighter)
Uniformity of structure	Mostly better
Small thickness	Better (1 cm and 1.2 cm standard for ES)
Large thickness	Worse (ES board is limited by 3 cm thickness)
Design options	Same or better (ES - individual design)

 

Natural stone - Marble

• marble is a luxury material with a characteristic (soft, waxy) appearance

General comparison table: Engineered quartz-based stone (ES) / Natural stone - Marble (NM)

Property	Results of hardened quartz-based stone (ES)
Chemical resistance	Much better (marble - CaCO3 = low resistance)
Abrasion and scratch resistance	Better (CaCOmarble3 = lower hardness)
Hardness	Higher (CaCOmarble3 = lower hardness)
Absorbency	Better (ES <0.05%, NM 0, 1 - 0.6%)
Flexural tensile strength	Higher (ES> 40 MPa, NM <20 MPa)
Flexibility	Better flexibility for the same thickness
Thermal expansion	Worse (higher coefficient)
Stain resistance	Better
Polishing, cutting, machining	Slightly different (SiO2 is harder than CaCO3)
Weight	Better (ES is lighter)
Uniformity of structure	Mostly better
Small thickness	Better (1 cm and 1.2 cm standard for ES)
Large thickness	Worse (ES board is limited to 3 cm thickness)
Design options	Same or better (ES - individual design)

 

Ceramics

• large-format ceramic tiles are a substitute suitable for application on kitchen countertops and facades

General comparison table: Hardened quartz-based stone (ES) / Ceramics (C)

Property	Results of hardened quartz-based stone (ES)
Chemical resistance	Same or slightly worse (ES does not resist strong acids and alkalis)
Abrasion and scratch resistance	Same or slightly worse
Hardness	Same or slightly worse
Absorbency	Better (C <0.1%, ES <0.05%)
Flexural tensile strength	Higher (ES up to 90 MPa , C to 60 MPa)
Flexibility	Better flexibility for the same thickness
Impact resistance	Higher (ES <9 J, C <5% - for board thickness 20 mm)
Stain resistance	Same
Polishing, cutting, machining	Much better (ES processing is easier)
Weight	generally the same
Reaction to fire	worse (EC grade 2, C class A1)
Small thickness	Worse (ES min 10 mm C min 5 mm)
Large thickness	Equal or better (C 3 cm plate is not very common)
Design options	generally the same C has wider options in printing

 

Marble-based technical stone

• material produced by Breton using a mixture of crushed marble, polyester resin and color pigments, pressed into blo

General comparison table: Engineered quartz-based stone (ES) / Hardened marble-based stone (MB)

Property	Results of hardened quartz-based stone (ES)
Chemical resistance	Much better (marble - CaCO3 = low resistance)
Abrasion and scratch resistance	Better (CaCOmarble3 = lower hardness)
Hardness	Higher (CaCOmarble3 = lower hardness)
Absorbency	Better (ES <0.05%, MB <0.2%)
Bending tensile strength	Higher (ES> 40 MPa, MB 10–35 MPa)
Flexibility	Better flexibility for the same thickness
Thermal expansion	Same or slightly worse
Stain resistance	Better
Polishing, cutting, machining	Slightly different (SiO2 is harder than CaCO3)
Weight	Slightly lower
Reaction to fire	Same
Small thickness	Same
Large thickness	Same or worse (ES board is limited to 3 cm thickness)
Design options	A littlebetter MB –( marble pieces limit appearance)

 

Solid surface

• materials "solid surface" consist of an acrylate polymer and alumina hydrate and are versatile and workable at temperatures up to 149 ° C

General comparative table: Quartz stone based on quartz (EC) / solid surface (SC)

Property	Results of hardened quartz-based stone (ES)
Chemical resistance	Same or better
Abrasion and scratch resistance	Significantly better (SC has lower hardness)
Hardness	Higher (SC has higher acrylic resin content)
Absorbency	Generally the same
flexural tensile strength	Generally the same (ES 40–90 MPa, SC 50–75 MPa)
Flexibility	Slightly lower (SC has a higher acrylic resin content)
Workability	Worse (ES is as strong as natural stone)
Stain resistance	Generally the same
Polishing, cutting, machining	Slightly different (SiO2 is much harder )
Weight	Higher (ES is heavier)
Cigarette fire resistance	Significantly higher (ES has lower resin content)
Reaction to fire	Better (ES class A2, SC class C)
Large thickness	Better (SC boards are l imitated with a thickness of 19 mm)
Design options	Same