wen/chancan
What is the definition of rock slab? Is it a ceramic slab? Does it belong to the category of ceramic tiles? Is its name widely recognized?
Today, when domestic slate production and processing are in full swing, raising such a series of questions seems a bit redundant and ridiculous.
However, "If the name is not right, the words will not go smoothly, and if the words are not right, the things will not be achieved" - slate is so popular, but it does not even have an accurate definition and a sufficiently authoritative name. How can it convince consumers to pay for it?
一
A few years ago, when ceramic slabs were just emerging in China, a friend of the author had just switched to the first slate brand in China established by a ceramic tile company. Since I was curious about rock slabs, which were still new at the time, the author asked this friend the following questions.
"What are the characteristics of the ceramic tiles produced by your company?" the author asked her.
"Our company doesn't make ceramic tiles, we make slate." She replied with a confident look.
“Isn’t a rock slab just a big slab? Aren’t a big slab just a ceramic tile?” The author was confused after hearing this.
"Of course not! A big slab is a big slab, a rock slab is a rock slab..."
The author forgot what she said specifically, but it is certain that the author misunderstood, so he followed her words with irony: "Understood! Your slate is not a ceramic tile, it is the same as natural marble. , is mined from nature.”
……
As for the naming and definition of rock slabs, I believe that not only the author, but a ceramic person, has had questions and confusion, not to mention outsiders, especiallyare ordinary consumers.
"Whether the name 'slate' is used as a technical term, a standard term or a commercial term, it should be given a basic concept or a complete and accurate definition as early as possible to reduce unnecessary ambiguities or opportunities. Stone Enterprise Litigation Marble Ceramic tiles have been around for more than three years, will there be another lawsuit that 'slate' does not have rocks, and extends to the ceramic tile industry to deceive consumers...", "If the word 'slate' develops into a technical term or a standard term, then A strict definition and category must be given, and if it is used as a commercial term, it should also have a general concept." Dr. Yin Hong said in the article "Let's talk about "What is rock slab again?"" in November 2019.
二
So what exactly is rock slab? What does it have to do with ceramic tiles, including large ceramic slabs?
As for the definition of rock slab, Baidu Encyclopedia explains it as:
Ceramic slate, the English description is "SINTERED STONE", which means "sintered stone". It is made of natural raw materials through a special process and pressed with the help of a press of more than 10,000 tons ( More than 15,000 tons), combined with advanced production technology, it is a oversized new porcelain material that is fired at a high temperature of more than 1200°C and can withstand cutting, drilling, grinding and other processing processes.
Ceramic rock slabs are mainly used in the field of home and kitchen slabs. As a new species in the home furnishing field, compared with other home furnishing products, slate home furnishings have large specifications, strong moldability, diverse designs and colors, high temperature resistance, wear and scratch resistance, anti-penetration, acid and alkali resistance, zero Formaldehyde, environmental protection and health properties.
Although this definition is mostly provided by professionals engaged in slate in the ceramic industry and appears in the more authoritative Baidu Encyclopedia, it has still been questioned by many people.
Someone discussed this definition in Baidu EncyclopediaThis is the message in the forum: The standard for real large slabs in ceramics is actually the same as rock slabs. Slate is a type of large slab, derived from large slabs. The so-called slate has a surface pattern that is similar to or the same color as the body. It used to be called full-body bricks.
In the daily exchanges between ceramic people, some people (it is estimated that most of the ceramic companies and dealers have not launched the slate project yet) even sneer at the slate, which is unreasonableStone slabs are just big slabs replaced with a vest, and are not essentially different from ceramic tiles.
Yesterday, the author saw an article about rock slabs on a WeChat public account, and its words were particularly sharp.
It is titled "Why must rock slabs be ceramic tiles?" and the tone is unequivocal and unquestionable; it emphasizes that Sandstone is the abbreviation of rock slabs and ceramic tiles, the biggest difference between slate and other traditional types of ceramic tiles lies in its scene application. The original intention of producing and manufacturing slate is to better suit the wide application in home scenes; it clearly emphasizes, "At this stage in the industry, there are still a small number of people who deliberately confuse the public and make up the definition of slate. There are even companies that deceive customers by claiming that slate is not ceramic tiles ”, “The reason why the above situation occurs is that the information is not transparent enough, ordinary practitioners have unreliable industry knowledge, and their understanding and identification abilities are relatively weak.” 'The occurrence of such a joke also reflects that some people in the industry are too anxious and eager for quick success".
Of course, this article has such a clear and sharp point of view, and it has its own basis. It believes that "the production and manufacturing process of rock slabs is basically the same as that of traditional ceramic tiles" and consists of "raw material storage - powder preparation - system cloth (key difference) - pressing and molding (key difference) - drying/printing - —Firing—edging, surface treatment—- Grading, waxing - packaging and storage." The process steps of rock slabs and ceramic tiles from raw materials to products are basically fixed, but the raw material ratio, production system and other parameters are different.
三
For "Why does rock slab have to be ceramic tile?" "What is the author's attitude towards this article?
It can be said that I strongly disagree but have to agree.
I disagree because I think If the ceramic industry does not establish the definition of slate and does not clearly point out the difference between slate and traditional ceramic tiles, it will indeed give rise to Terminal sales bring a lot of trouble. This is mainly reflected in two aspects:
First, it provides the possibility for ceramic tile companies and brands to falsely speculate in the name of slate, leading to the destruction of market competition order.
Just as many ceramic tile companies and brands used to deceive consumers under the banner of negative ion ceramic tiles, now some ceramic tile companies and brands have begun to use the guise of slate to deceive consumers. Those merchants that sell a 1000×600mm slate slab for less than 40 yuan and a 900×1800mm slate dining table for less than 200 yuan either reduce product quality to lower product prices, or Use large ceramic slabs to pretend to be rock slabs. What's more, some ceramic tile brands claim to consumers that their traditional ceramic tiles with a size of 800×800mm are slates. This makes the ceramic tile market, which was already chaotic due to vicious price competition, even worse.
The second is that it is not conducive to consumer education, making it even more difficult to popularize slate.
If ceramic tile companies and brands themselves do not understand the definition of slate and cannot explain the connotation of slate, how can they explain the value of slate to dealers and consumers? If consumers find that neither the manufacturer nor the dealer can explain what slate is, or find that what everyone said is inconsistent,Same or even completely different, what impression will the rock slab leave in their hearts? This will undoubtedly damage the image of the slab and diminish its value.
I have to agree because the author first agrees Blindly following the trend of rock slabs is a manifestation of anxiety and eagerness for quick success, and also believes that There is no essential difference in production between slate and ceramic tiles, and slate originated from the ceramic industry. No matter how much we emphasize the essential differences between slate and ceramic tiles, we cannot deny the fact that slate is “born” in ceramic tile companies. In this sense, slate is really just a ceramic tile. No matter what its name is or how its appearance changes, it is exactly the same as many people, no matter how rich they are, are still farmers at heart.
Writing here, the author must clearly state his point of view: Stone slabs are both ceramic tiles and not ceramic tiles. From a production point of view, rock slabs are ceramic tiles; from a processing point of view, they are not ceramic tiles; from an application point of view, they are ceramic tiles that can be used to pave floors and walls, but are not ceramic tiles. The greater room for development lies in cross-border application fields such as home customization. . The definition of rock slabs should be determined as early as possible and the standards for rock slabs should be promulgated.
Tile companies and brands involved in slate and their dealers should have a clear understanding of slate. There is no essential difference between the production of rock slabs and traditional ceramic tiles.Don’t myth the production of rock slabs, nor the functions of rock slabs; there is no difference between rock slabs and traditional ceramic tiles. The application is very different. It can replace high-end stone and traditional ceramic tiles when paving floors and walls. The effect is more outstanding for users and the price is higher for merchants. It can be used in cross-border applications. Replacing stone, wood and glass, itcan open up a vast world for the ceramic industry. Slate is not necessarily a life-saving straw for ceramic tile companies and brands. A swarm of swarms may fall into the fire pit.
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By the way, the name ceramic tile is actually not very appropriate. It stands to reason that bricks are used to build walls rather than pave the floor. The tiles laid on the ground should not be called ceramic tiles but porcelain tiles. The interior wall tiles affixed to the wall are also called porcelain tiles, which barely makes sense.
One final word. When I was a kid, I didn’t know the term ceramic tile at all. I just called it “porcelain slab” in a literal way. To exaggerate, I can be considered the first person in the industry to predict large slabs and slate slabs. .
Author: Zen Can
