Rocks, Stones, and Ceramics: A Comprehensive Look at Construction Materials

Natural Stone

River Rocks

Smooth and round. Used for decoration and pavements, especially in areas where children play.

Crushed Rocks

Irregular edges provide more friction. Used for paths or roads.

Types of Stone

Limestone

Porous, off-white sedimentary rock. Usually white and may contain animal fossils. Used for sculptures, buildings, and breakwaters.

Marble

Hard, dense metamorphic rock naturally formed from limestone. Cool to the touch and known for its resistance to compression and weather conditions. Available in a variety of colors and has a shiny finish when polished. Used for sculptures, decorations, columns, floors, and kitchen countertops.

Granite

Igneous rock composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Formed by the crystallization of volcanic magma under the Earth's surface. Very resistant to impacts and compression. Available in various colors. Used for floors, walls, and kitchen countertops.

Slate

Dark blue metamorphic rock formed by the compression of fine clay. Used for roofs and pavements.

Stone Binders

In construction, plaster and cement are used as binders to hold other materials together. When water is added to binders, an exothermic reaction leads to a setting process. After stone binders have set, they are hard and resistant.

Types of Binders

Plaster

Made from gypsum rock. Dissolves in water, creating a sticky paste that dries quickly. After drying, plaster is resistant to compression and fire. Both iron and steel will rust in contact with plaster. Used for lining walls and ceilings, prefabricated plasterboard for walls and ceilings, and prefabricated moldings and sculptures.

Lime

Produced by heating limestone to 900 degrees through calcination. When mixed with water, it forms a paste that solidifies easily. Used for whitewashing walls and in mixtures with other building materials.

Cement

A mixture of limestone and clay that has been crushed and heated to 1250 degrees. A small amount of plaster is added to make grey powder that is mixed with water to form a paste. When the paste dries and sets, it becomes very hard and resistant. Used for cement board, pipes, and pavements. When plaster, lime, or cement are mixed with a lot of water, they form a liquid called slurry, which can be used to finish walls or pavements.

Artificial Stone

Can be manufactured with binders and various materials, such as fiber, gravel, and sand.

Types of Artificial Stone

Concrete

A mixture of gravel, sand, and cement. Grey in color and very resistant to pressure but not to traction. When used for structural purposes, a framework of steel bars can be added, creating reinforced concrete, which is resistant to pressure, traction, and torsion. Concrete is used for foundations, while reinforced concrete is used for structural elements such as pillars and floors.

Fiber Cement

Composed of fibers covered with mortar. In the past, these fibers were made of asbestos, but this is now prohibited due to health risks. Modern fiber cement uses fiberglass or cellulose.

Ceramic Materials

Made from clay. When wet, clay is soft and pliable, easily shaped. When dry, it becomes porous, chemically inert, and resistant to high temperatures. Available in many colors.

Creating Ceramic Materials

1. Preparation: The clay is cleaned to remove plant material. Large chunks are broken into smaller pieces by rollers.
2. Mixing: The clay is mixed with water, coloring, temper, and flux.
3. Shaping: The clay is shaped into its final form, often using molds, presses, or extruding machines in factories.
4. Drying: The clay is dried to eliminate water in heated tunnels.
5. Firing: This is done in kilns at temperatures between 700 and 1700 degrees.
6. Decoration: After firing, objects can be decorated and finished with different types of glaze.