What Are The Main Features Of A Carrara Quartz Slab

Appearance Features

Its white base paired with gray or blue textures not only simulates the aesthetic of marble but also adds a modern touch. In a survey on market trends, over 70% of interior designers expressed a preference for using Carrara-like textures because these textures effectively enhance the visual depth and expansiveness of spaces.

The standard slab size is 3200mm x 1600mm, with thicknesses typically ranging from 15mm to 30mm. This large size design reduces seams, providing a continuous and unified visual effect for places like lobbies of star-rated hotels or luxury residential kitchens. A five-star hotel used seamless Carrara quartz slabs in its lobby, making the entire space appear more spacious and upscale.

The surface water absorption rate of Carrara quartz slabs is as low as 0.02%, far below the industry standard of 0.5%. This means that even the most difficult liquid stains, such as red wine or oil, are unlikely to penetrate the surface, significantly reducing the burden of daily maintenance.

In a practical kitchen use case, after a year of frequent use, the quartz slab's surface still maintained its initial glossiness and stain-free condition. Carrara quartz slabs can achieve a reflectivity of up to 93%, allowing them to display excellent brightness under natural or artificial lighting. In a high-end apartment project, designers specifically chose this high-gloss Carrara quartz slab to enhance the reflection of indoor light, effectively improving the overall sense of space.

Physical Properties

In terms of hardness and abrasion resistance, the Mohs hardness of Carrara quartz slabs reaches level 7, which is significantly higher than the maximum of 5 for marble and 6 for granite. In specific abrasion resistance tests, Carrara quartz slabs showed no signs of wear or scratches even after 5,000 cycles of repeated friction tests, while standard marble showed clear signs of wear after just 1,000 tests. Compression strength tests show that Carrara quartz slabs have a compression strength of 500 megapascals, far exceeding the 200 megapascals of traditional marble and 300 megapascals of granite.

In a field test, Carrara quartz slabs used as flooring in commercial spaces withstood over 10,000 daily footfalls and up to 1,000 kilograms of localized pressure without any cracks or breaks. In terms of thermal stability, Carrara quartz slabs can withstand temperatures up to 300°C without deforming. In a practical kitchen application test, even when the surface temperature was continuously maintained at 250°C, Carrara quartz slabs showed no signs of cracks or discoloration. In terms of chemical corrosion resistance, after six months of daily exposure to cleaning chemicals, the material's chemical structure remained stable, with no significant changes in color or gloss.

Maintenance and Care

In an experiment, even the most difficult stains, such as red wine and coffee, placed on Carrara quartz slabs for 24 hours, could be cleaned up with over 98% effectiveness using just mild soap and water. Despite the natural hardness of Carrara quartz slabs being as high as level 7 on the Mohs scale, they are highly resistant to scratches in daily life.

In a long-term kitchen use scenario, even with frequent contact with metal kitchen tools, Carrara quartz slabs showed a scratch occurrence rate of only 0.5% after six months of continuous use, far lower than other common materials. If stains on Carrara quartz slabs are cleaned immediately after they occur, the probability of remaining stain-free is as high as 99.5%. If cleaning is delayed for 24 hours, the risk of slight discoloration on the slab surface increases by 20%. To maintain the long-term novelty and aesthetics of Carrara quartz slabs, it is recommended to clean any type of spillage immediately.

Indoor Applicability

In home environments, especially in kitchens, its non-porous surface makes cleaning easy and effectively prevents the penetration of food stains and liquid spills. Carrara quartz slabs have a stain removal rate of 98% in daily use, and even the most stubborn stains, such as red wine and coffee, can be easily wiped clean.

In commercial spaces, such as restaurants and hotels in high-traffic areas, in a case study of a commercial restaurant, the material was not only chosen as the flooring material for its abrasion resistance but also reduced maintenance costs due to its low maintenance needs. Even in environments with high-frequency foot traffic and heavy object friction, the quartz slabs maintain their structural and aesthetic integrity. The multifunctionality and high performance of this material ensure that it provides long-term value in various indoor design projects.