Exploring various techniques for surface treatment of natural stone

Stone processing is a diverse field that encompasses a variety of techniques and methods for converting raw stone into finished stone. From cutting and carving to grinding and drilling, the art of stone working offers numerous possibilities for creating a variety of decorative and functional pieces. Different stone processing technologies and applications are used to meet the different needs of users and architectural designs.

According to the different stone processing techniques, it can be divided into special-shaped products and plate products. Special-shaped products include curved plates, hollow columns, lines, parquets, and other carefully crafted products, while plate products include larger plates, specification plates, thin plates, etc. These products are used in indoor and outdoor applications as wall and facade stones, floor stones, architectural stones such as bridge piers, and decorative stones, including various types of decorative panels.

1. Natural surface

Among these techniques, natural surface treatments have gained attention for their ability to create rugged and visually captivating stones that capture the essence of natural forms. Natural surfacing involves using traditional tools such as hammers to organically split a stone, retaining its natural characteristics while creating an uneven surface that closely resembles the original, irregular texture found in natural stone. The purpose of this approach is to maintain the inherent properties of the stone while enhancing its visual appeal and practicality.

The resulting natural surface is exceptionally rough, ideal for a range of applications such as small squares and curbs, and its unique texture adds a rustic charm to architectural and landscaping projects. This method, often referred to as a cracked surface, gives the stone a rough feel without being overly rough like other processes such as fire treatment. Typically, a crackle finish is crafted by hand cutting or chiseling in the mine, revealing the stone's naturally crackled surface and infusing each piece with a unique and authentic beauty.

The beauty of working with natural surface stone lies in its ability to create products that blend seamlessly with natural landscapes and architectural designs, adding an element of raw beauty to a variety of structures and environments. The rugged, earthy appeal of natural surface stone makes it an attractive choice for designers and builders looking to infuse spaces with timeless authenticity and organic charm.

2. Machine section

At the heart of machine-cut stone processing lies state-of-the-art equipment that enables the precise shaping and cutting of raw stone to achieve specific textures and finishes. Utilizing tools such as diamond saw blades, sand saws, and bridge cutters, craftsmen can create the look of natural stone with unparalleled precision and detail. This approach allows for the creation of custom designs and patterns, bringing the visions of architects, designers, and builders to life in ways previously unachievable through traditional techniques.

The machine-cut surface produced during stone processing has a rough texture and unique machine-cut lines, proving the precision and power of modern technology in working with natural materials. While this method may lack the inherent brightness of an untreated stone surface, it provides a unique opportunity to customize the appearance of the stone to meet specific aesthetic and functional requirements. Furthermore, machine-cut surfaces do not simply replicate the natural color and pattern of the stone; Instead, they serve as a canvas for injecting creative design elements and intricate details. With its ability to create custom textures, shapes, and patterns, machine-cut stone processing has played an important role in various industries including architecture, interior design, and landscaping.

3. Polished surface

The art of stone surface polishing, also known as mirror finishing, has long fascinated craftsmen and designers because of its ability to transform rough and raw stone into a luminous and high-gloss finish that exudes elegance and sophistication.

The polished surface, with its mirror-like effect and extraordinary smoothness, is achieved through a multi-step process that requires meticulous attention to detail and a keen understanding of the unique qualities of each stone type. Using resin polishing pads, skilled craftsmen methodically shape and refine the stone surface to achieve a stunning mirror-like sheen that reflects light at an impressive 80 to 90 degrees. Before the complex polishing process begins, a series of rigorous tests and inspections are conducted to ensure that the semi-finished stone meets the precise specifications and quality standards required for a polished finish. This meticulous approach includes careful inspection of stone type, size, angle tolerances, tone, and pattern consistency while checking for defects such as cracks, color lines, stains, and any surface contamination that could affect the final finish.

The process itself begins with rough grinding, using a 50# metal polishing pad to establish a datum and remove imperfections, ensuring an efficient and uniform surface. While taking care to avoid tonal differences and quality defects, skilled craftsmen identify reference surfaces with excellent flatness and angular alignment to guide subsequent stages of the process. The subsequent fine grinding, fine grinding, and polishing stages require higher precision, using 200# and 400# metal polishing pads, and finally using diamond resin polishing pads to gradually refine and improve the surface.

Throughout these stages it is crucial to remove all wear marks from the previous stages, requiring close attention and a keen eye to ensure a perfect finish. Mastering the selection of the appropriate diamond resin pad for the final polishing stage is critical to achieving the desired high-gloss mirror finish. This critical decision highlights expert knowledge and nuanced understanding of the stone, as craftsmen carefully evaluate and select the best tools to reveal the stone's rich natural colors and textures most spectacularly.

The art and precision of stone surface polishing embody the harmonious fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology, as craftsmen continue to unlock the full potential of natural stone, creating stunning surfaces that adorn residential and commercial spaces with unparalleled beauty and sophistication.

4. Surface fire

Utilizing high-temperature gas injection technology (commonly known as the flame injection method), fireproof panels provide an even, rough, and colorful finish that is quickly becoming the first choice for interior flooring and commercial building exteriors. The innovative working principle behind fireproof panels involves harnessing the thermal shock created by the interaction of hot gas flames with temperatures over 20,000°K with the stone surface. This process utilizes the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of various mineral particles in granite to form natural, irregular rough patterns, with minor unevenness not exceeding 1 to 1.5 mm.

When a hot gas flame is used in the jet combustion process, the surface particles expand and loosen due to thermal expansion, giving the fireproof board treatment a unique visual and textural appeal. As well as its eye-catching aesthetic properties, fireproof board surfaces also offer practical advantages, making them ideal for a range of applications in indoor and commercial settings. The natural concave and convex and rough texture produced by the fireproof board treatment can provide an effective anti-slip effect and enhance the safety of high-traffic areas. In addition, the high-temperature treatment makes the surface weather-resistant, ensuring durability and longevity, which is critical to withstand high-traffic conditions and the harsh conditions commonly found in commercial environments.

5. Matt surface

Achieved through rough grinding and diamond sawing techniques, matte panels are characterized by a lack of brightness and texture, very similar to the increasingly popular matte furniture trend.

The processing technology of matte boards is complex and similar to polished boards, including steps such as sawing, thickness adjustment, rough grinding, cutting, edge grinding, and chamfering, as well as subsequent inspection, packaging, transportation, or storage stages. A key point in the production of frosted boards is the control of the number of grinding heads used during rough grinding. For large rough-sawn boards, the rough grinding process starts with a smaller mesh number, usually 24 mesh to 120 mesh, while the machine board used for cutting needs to be rough ground with 60 mesh and 120 mesh. The operation method is similar to the polishing process of the bare plate. Frosted panels are widely used in a variety of situations, including outdoor floors, elevator entrances, corridors, and bathrooms, and their primary function is to provide anti-slip properties to improve safety.

In addition, these products are also making waves in the field of furniture decoration, becoming an innovative and fashionable choice for interior design and furnishings. The introduction of matte panels into the architecture and design industries represents a step towards redefining traditional surface treatments and heralds a new era of versatile and beautiful design solutions. Matte panels have the potential to transform surfaces that are noticeably lacking in brightness and matte surfaces, radically different from traditional products, adding sophistication and functionality to a variety of interior and exterior environments.