Innovations In Sanitary Ware Technology

Ceramics are one among the ancient composite materials made by humankind. It is environment friendly as it is completely recyclable. The main reason sanitary ware products are made from ceramics is because of it is extremely smooth and easy to maintain. Ceramics are impervious to harsh compounds such as industrial strength acids and disinfectants. It is lightweight, hard and it has a clean look to it.

The prime components of ceramics used in sanitary ware manufacturing have always been clay, quartz, feldspar and kaolinite. These materials are extremely malleable in nature and they are thoroughly washed, heat treated and mixed together to form a uniform liquid mass. This hot liquid is then poured into moulds where they cool down and harden to form the final sanitary ware product. The hot liquid mass flows freely and can be cast into a wide variety of shapes. However, casting objects that have extremely complex shapes can be challenging. Thanks to the recent innovations in die casting for sanitary ware, these complex shapes can be realized today. Once these sanitary ware units are fresh out of the moulds, they are set out to dry and an external layer of glaze is applied to give them a smooth finish. These units are then propped up in a kiln where they are exposed to temperatures upto 1240 degrees Centigrade. This heat treatment is essential for the hardening and durability of the sanitary ware units.

Recent innovations have led to the reduction in the cost of manufacturing ceramics by lowering the furnace temperature and the time required for sintering. The lowered furnace temperature is also beneficial as some other materials can now be added to the ceramics in the sintering process which previously couldn't be added due to the high heat. Simple glazing errors previously had to be drilled, removed and refitted with fresh glaze and the entire unit had to be fired again in the kiln. This is highly uneconomical as it uses up a lot of time and money. In the present day, only the faulty areas have to be exposed to the sintering process. The process is considerably faster and damage to the whole unit can be avoided as the risk for thermal shock by refiring the whole unit is eliminated.

Vitreous China is renown for its high degree of water resistance. It is one of the most hygenic ceramic variants and is the only one used in the construction of urinals and water closets. It also happens to be the hardest material to shape due to its non - linear shrinkage during the drying and firing in the kiln. Thanks to the advancements in material engineering, huge surfaces and detailed edges can now be made with this ceramic. The same advancements are used in the manufacturing of washbasins greater than 180 centimetres in length and 70 kilograms in weight using fine fireclay.

Shower trays and bathtubs are sometimes made using sanitary acrylic as a substitute for ceramics. This is because the material is warm to the touch and it has really good insulating properties. This prevents the material from going stone cold during the winters and it also helps in retaining the water's heat. They are very easy to clean and maintain as well. Some bathtubs are also encased in enamelled steel which makes them resistant to scratches, abrasion and any harsh industrial grade sanitizers. An added layer of an anti-slip coating will make it convenient for people to step in and out of the bathtubs safely.

Most sanitary ware products are at a high risk for contracting bacteria and other pathogens on the surface. These microbial agents can be quite harmful. Although one may use antibacterial agents to get rid of them, they are active only for a limited time duration. Recent innovation has led to the production of glazes that have antibacterial properties. Additionally, these glazes are much smoother than the ones in the past which makes it harder for bacteria to stick to the surface and colonize.

If you wish to purchase any top of the line sanitary ware products, then Maruthi Ceramics would be your best bet. They are one of the best sanitary ware dealers in Bangalore.