Dependence of surface porosity on the polishing depth of porcelain stoneware tiles

Porcelain stoneware tile polishing is a process that adds value to ceramic tiles due to the high gloss achieved upon reducing surface roughness. However, surface polishing removes a fine layer of the product, revealing numerous “closed” pores initially located inside the material, which may compromise some of its properties such as stain resistance. The literature indicates a possible orientation of pores on surfaces parallel to that of the use of the product. Based on this hypothesis, the present work aimed to evaluate how the thickness of the layer removed by polishing acts upon the profile of exposed surface pores, and hence, on the stain resistance of the product. The results of this study are novel and reveal that the staining tendency of porcelain stoneware tile can be altered significantly by varying the conditions of the surface wear produced by polishing.