In modern home decoration, the term "artificial stone" is appearing more and more frequently and is gradually taking the leading position in the stone market. It is affectionately called the "Lazy Person's countertop" by young people and is a favorite among designers. From the kitchen countertops and bathroom washbasins in your home to the square tiles and sculpture crafts in shopping malls, it is everywhere. So, what is artificial stone, what are its application scopes, and what is the role of silane in artificial stone? Today, let's lift the veil of mystery surrounding this "star of building materials" together.

In simple terms, artificial stone is a kind of synthetic building decoration material. It is not directly mined from nature. Instead, it is processed by using crushed stones and stone powder from natural stone as the main fillers, mixed with binders (such as resins and cement), pigments and additives, and then through vacuum stirring, high-pressure oscillation, high-temperature curing, grinding and polishing and other techniques.

Why has it become the darling of modern architecture?

Strong plasticity

The texture of natural stone is formed naturally, while that of artificial stone is determined by craftsmanship. By flexibly adjusting the proportion of materials and process parameters, it is easy to produce a variety of artificial stones with different textures.

Stable performance

Artificial stone has a dense structure and no micro-pores. The pore-free structure means it is stain-resistant, antibacterial and maintenance-free. Unlike marble, it does not require regular waxing and sealing for maintenance, making it easier to clean and maintain.

Economical and durable

During the production process, the size and shape can be flexibly customized according to the demand, thereby reducing unnecessary material waste and processing costs. Meanwhile, its durability ensures that it can "last long", requiring basically no special maintenance and reducing later costs.

Application fields of artificial stone

Field of architecture

Artificial stone is widely used in interior and exterior decoration due to its environmental friendliness, durability and ease of processing. Whether it is floor paving, wall decoration, or stairs, countertops, etc., artificial stone can add a unique aesthetic touch to architectural Spaces. Meanwhile, artificial stone also features anti-slip, wear-resistant and easy to clean properties, which have made it widely used in public places such as hospitals, schools and shopping malls.

Home furnishing field

From kitchen countertops and bathroom washbasins to furniture such as dining tables and coffee tables, artificial stone can bring an elegant and comfortable atmosphere to the home environment. In addition, artificial stone also has the characteristics of being antibacterial, anti-mold and easy to maintain, making home life more convenient.

Art field

Whether it is sculptures, ornaments, murals, mosaics and other artworks, artificial stone can provide artists with endless creative inspiration with its unique texture and color.

The application of silane coupling agent in artificial stone

The main component of artificial stone is quartz sand. As quartz sand is a hydrophilic non-metallic mineral filler and resin is an organic compound with hydrophobicity, these two are essentially incompatible. Therefore, the modification of silane coupling agents is precisely the "golden key" to solving this problem. Silane coupling agents are a type of molecule that simultaneously contain both organic-philic and inorganic-philic functional groups. They can effectively "couple" two materials with different properties together, building a stable "chemical bridge" between originally incompatible inorganic fillers and organic resins, and eliminating the previous interface weaknesses.

Enhance mechanical strength

Due to the existence of "molecular Bridges", the bending strength, impact strength and hardness of the product will all be significantly enhanced, making it more durable, with a more scratch-resistant surface and less prone to cracking or breaking.

Improve water resistance and anti-fouling properties

Silane coupling agents effectively block moisture, enhance its waterproof performance, and reduce the possibility of medium erosion through the interface. At the same time, the strong chemical bond combination can better resist the stress damage caused by thermal expansion and contraction, which can extend the service life of artificial stone.

Improve processing performance

The filler treated with coupling agent has better dispersion in the resin, the viscosity of the system decreases, the fluidity increases, which is convenient for pouring and venting, and reduces bubbles. At the same time, under the premise of ensuring the same fluidity and mechanical properties, more fillers can be added to reduce the cost of raw materials.

As a national high-tech enterprise, a provincial specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative enterprise, and a provincial digital workshop enterprise for silane coupling agents, GBXF SILICONES, relying on its parent company Guibao Technology's National Enterprise Technology Center and other national-level innovation platforms, independently developed and produced silane coupling agents such as GX-570 and GX-5773, which have been widely used in the modification of artificial stone. And establish good long-term cooperative relationships with well-known enterprises in the industry at home and abroad. Through the unique bifunctional structure of silane coupling agents, the problem of compatibility at the organic-inorganic interface has been fundamentally solved, significantly enhancing the application value of artificial stone.

GBXF SILICONES, a manufacturer of silane coupling agents

In the "Catalogue for the Guidance of Industrial Structure Adjustment (2024 Edition)", it is clearly classified as an encouraged industry for "building materials - research and development and production of inorganic artificial stone products and technical equipment", providing a solid policy guarantee for the development of the artificial stone industry. With the advancement of the global "dual carbon" goals, the green and low-carbon development of artificial stone will also be one of the future development trends.

In the future, GBXF SILICONES will attach great importance to the research and development and production centered on silicon compounds. Guided by the market and driven by innovation, it will continuously optimize and upgrade to contribute to the high-quality development of the artificial stone industry.