Scratching resistance of ceramic tiles

Abstract

The scratch resistance of the working surface of ceramic tiles represents a fundamental characteristic to defining their performances during service. The lack, in the EN ISO standards, of a specific standard regarding the determination of the scratch resistance, suggested to use a commercial available instrument, suitably designed and able to strictly control all the parameters involved in performing the test. For the present work, several ceramic tiles were selected and their working surface was subjected, under well established experimental conditions, to the scratch test. The possibility to quantify a parameter, in order to distinguish the different products, was also verified. The results pointed out a satisfactory repeatability, revealing moreover a dependence on the working surface conditions and the microstructure of the materials. As well known, in the quality control of these products, this latter aspect is particularly important.