Cast marble is currently very popular. It is used for the manufacture of plumbing products, decoration, etc. It can be said that it is a great idea for a novice entrepreneur to produce artificial marble. But there are a few details that are worth paying attention to. Firstly, the equipment for the production of artificial marble, which you need to buy. Let's talk about this.
What is the line for the production of artificial marble?
The first step is to set up a vibration table. Its main purpose is the processing of concrete elements and concrete products, so we can not do without it. It is worth paying your attention to the fact that this composite material consists of polyester resin, as well as a mineral-based filler.
In principle, cement-sand mixtures are quite strong and have many advantages over polymer concrete. But let's continue to consider equipment. As noted above, we need a vibration table, preferably molding, it will allow us to give a certain shape to our workpiece.
A cup sprayer and mixer are also required for mixing the solution. Of course, we will need forms, we need to think about this in advance. It all depends on why, or rather, for what area of activity we produce marble. Well, now in more detail about how the manufacturing process goes.
Artificial Marble Technology
A distinctive feature of cast stone is that you can get absolutely any color. This is achieved by adding various pigments. The binder is polyester resin, it is this component that affects the strength of the material. So, it all starts with the fact that we find raw materials. As a rule, it is sand, cement, pebbles (used as a filler), water, dyes and plasticizer 1%.
We sift the material on a vibrating table, and then we make a solution in a concrete mixer from cement, sand and pebbles. Before this we prepare the forms, they must be clean and dry. Dye is added to the mixture, it is better if there are several pigments. It is important to achieve uniformity of the material, which is why the whole process is accompanied by constant mixing. At the final stage, the product is poured into a mold and costs about 10 hours there, after which it can be removed. As you can see, the equipment for the production of artificial marble is quite simple.
About material features
It has already been noted above that artificial marble has many advantages over polymer concrete. The material is not exposed to burning, and also does not conduct electricity and heat. This allows you to use it in places with elevated temperatures (radiators, stoves, fireplaces), etc.
Such marble practically does not interact with chemical elements such as alkali, gasoline, acetone, etc. Any kind of contamination is quite easy to remove, so it is suitable for use in public toilets and similar places.
Another important indicator is the durability, as well as the environmental friendliness of cast stone. Examinations showed that even when heated, the material does not emit harmful substances. Thanks to its unique qualities, it is widely used in all areas, especially since the equipment for the production of artificial marble is not complicated, and its price is small.
Some more useful information
It is worth saying a few words that in some cases, after the material has hardened and you removed it from the mold, it will require additional mechanical processing. It consists in polishing and leveling the edges. In principle, this is necessary if the cast stone is an important purpose and must have an ideal shape.
In some cases, it makes sense to use chemical additives, for example, to increase mechanical resistance. If required by the operating conditions of the material. It is desirable that several shifts of employees work in your workshop, the area for each team should be about 20-25 square meters.
Do not forget to buy pallets on which you will fold the finished material. Delivery to the warehouse is preferably carried out by rail or conveyor (conveyor). The second case is suitable only if the warehouse is nearby.
Conclusion
As you can see, everything is extremely simple here. There are no complex chemical or physical processes. It is enough to follow all the rules, buy the necessary equipment for the production of artificial marble, and you can make cast stone.
Do not forget that the product must be really high-quality and homogeneous. But the main goal is to imitate natural stone, because artificial marble is designed for this. In principle, this may conclude our review. Despite the simplicity of the main work, do not forget that the production of artificial marble is a process that requires qualifications from your employees, as well as attention at all stages of manufacturing.
