When did quartz countertops come out?

In , an Italian inventor known as Marcello Toncelli discovered a method for engineering quartz that he patented. The material was durable and attractive enough to be used for all kinds of surfaces.It was particularly well-suited for quartz kitchen countertops.

Zhouxing supply professional and honest service.

Other companies soon start producing their own quartz like Cosentino, Cambria and Dupont. Marcello&#;s company Breton still produces quartz using the patented process. The company has given a license to 50 companies around the world to produce quartz using his patented method. Although these companies are manufacturing different varieties of quartz with their own unique composition, they are using the same method that Marcello Toncelli patented several decades back.

Quartz Composition

People may be surprised to know that quartz countertops are not made from solid quartz. It is an engineered stone made from various materials that might include quartz. Since quartz countertops are engineered, they have different characteristics from natural stone slabs.

Quartz countertops comprise ground particles of stone combined with resins. Although quartz may appear to be a stone, 10% of the material is not. While 90% of the quartz is made from crushed silica, ceramic, marble and granite, the rest is cement-based or polymeric binder that keeps it all together. The material can, of course, have quartz as well, although its content varies between compositions.

Quartz Making Process

The process for making quartz entails mixing different crushed stones together with a polymer blend, removing all air, heating the mixture and shaping it into slabs that are then used for kitchen countertops. The process allows manufacturers to make a high-quality material with high durability and aesthetics, which is perfect for the kitchen environment.

To give a unique look to their quartz, companies use their own mix of materials that might call for brass metal filings, glass and mirror fragments. People are often not aware of all that goes into their quartz kitchen countertops. Companies put in immense effort behind curating a unique look for their quartz kitchen countertops since high visual appeal can attract homeowners and give them a good share of the highly competitive market.

Quartz in Ancient Civilizations

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on earth and unsurprisingly, its history goes back to thousands of years. Archaeological evidence indicates that almost all advanced civilizations in the ancient world made use of quartz, including Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Australian aboriginals. The Australian aboriginals considered quartz to be maban &#; the magical material from which priests and shamans can derive mystical powers. Quartz was also used in tombs and cemeteries across Europe. Since the material is hard, several civilizations, including those in Europe, have used it for stone tools.

Quartz was also used for decorative purposes. The beautiful and resistant material was used extensively for vessels, rock crystal vases, cameo gems, engraved gems, headstone carvings and jewelry. An important reason why quartz was so highly prized is that it is naturally available in a wide variety of hues and patterns.

This is also a key reason why quartz is so highly prized to this day for kitchen countertops, even though it now includes other materials as well.

Quartz countertops are rivaling granite for the title of most popular, but it&#;s a relatively new trend.

For decades, granite was king, and few homeowners even knew quartz slabs were an option. Quartz, which is a natural stone infused with manmade materials for strength and durability, is available in a variety of patterns and colors. It&#;s more durable than any other natural stones, nonporous and can withstand immense heat.

For more Wholesale Quartz Slabsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

However, unlike other natural stones like granite and marble, quartz requires more intensive manufacturing. It&#;s the most abundant mineral there is, and the toughest, but it&#;s unsuitable for kitchen and bathroom countertops in raw form.

About 50 years ago, quartz was &#;discovered&#; as a great alternative to granite, but it wasn&#;t an easy sell for customers. Particularly after the unfortunate era of linoleum, anything manmade came with a side of suspicion.

Quartz Countertops Bucking Trends

Quartz countertops are not manmade the same way Formica is. Instead, the natural minerals are simply improved upon, thanks to manufacturing processes.

It took a few years to perfect the processing that would result in gorgeous, natural-looking and durable countertops. This happened during the early stages of North Americans embracing granite as the preferred countertop material.

From the s to s, both quartz and granite were in the early adoption phase. For a few years, it looked like granite would remain on top, but recently quartz has become a stiff competitor.

Engineering quartz counters requires pressing polymer resins directly into raw quartz. Breton SpA, an Italian company, was the first to experiment with this approach in the s. Breton is still a major quartz manufacturer, and that early process has been improved upon by manufacturers around the globe. Unlike some natural stones, quartz is so abundant that it can be sourced from nearly anywhere.

Controlling the Countertops

Thanks to that original Breton process, quartz has become not just highly durable, but also customizable. Manufacturers can choose from a number of pigments and sparkles (such as glass) to give slabs one-of-a-kind looks. Italy adopted quartz counters en masse first, and the trend spread throughout Europe. It took a little longer for quartz fever to catch on in the U.S, but that&#;s often the case with trends that start overseas.

During the &#;70s and early &#;80s, Americans were still clinging to those manmade countertop materials of yore. Laminate was king during the mid-century, but by the &#;90s, that love affair was ending. Still, Americans love the versatility of laminate and the ability to personalize the looks of kitchens. Since quartz infuses manmade materials into slabs, it can be made to look like limestone, granite, marble or just about any other raw stone. That personalization is what skyrocketed quartz to fame in the U.S.

Contact Creative Granite for your custom quartz countertop needs, and start designing your dream kitchen today.

For more information, please visit Granite Markers.