Ceramics are an inseparable part of our living spaces—from the floors of our homes and the walls of our kitchens to the grand facades of modern buildings and even industrial environments. But what exactly is this durable, beautiful material we come into contact with every day made of? The journey of ceramics, from a formless lump of clay to an engineered piece of art, is a fascinating story of chemistry and physics. Understanding the ingredients of ceramics not only helps us make smarter choices but also reveals the true value of this remarkable product.
At PMA | IMPERIO, we invite you to explore the beating heart of this industry and take a closer look at the raw materials behind ceramic tiles—explained in detail yet in a simple way.
A Brief History: Ceramics from Past to Present
The story of ceramics is closely intertwined with the history of human civilization. Thousands of years ago, early humans discovered that by shaping clay and firing it, they could create strong, waterproof vessels. This simple discovery laid the foundation for the massive industry we know today.
The first ceramics were made from unprocessed local clays. Over time, with advances in science, people learned to mix different raw materials and control firing temperatures to dramatically improve properties. This evolution transformed ceramics from simple clay pots into advanced materials with diverse applications—including high-performance porcelain ceramics like PMA’s collections, designed for façades and high-traffic areas.
The Core of Ceramics: Essential Raw Materials
While formulations vary depending on application, almost all ceramics are built from three main groups of minerals—each playing a vital role in the final structure.
1. Forming Materials: The Soul of Ceramics
These give clay its plasticity and allow it to hold shape under pressure.
- Clay: The backbone of plastic materials, clay consists of tiny layered particles formed from weathered igneous rocks. Water molecules between these layers give it its malleability.
- Kaolin: A pure, white clay with few impurities—essential for porcelain. It ensures a bright body and high strength after firing.
- Ball Clay: More plastic than kaolin but with higher impurities. It’s usually added to improve workability.
2. Fillers: The Skeleton of Ceramics
These prevent excessive shrinkage during drying and firing, while boosting mechanical strength.
Silica / Quartz: The most common filler. Quartz doesn’t melt at high kiln temperatures but creates a rigid network that holds the structure, much like rebar in concrete. It also significantly increases hardness.
3. Fluxes: The Glue of Ceramics
Fluxes lower the melting point of the mix. In the kiln, they melt into a glassy phase that fills gaps between particles, binding everything together—a process known as sintering.
Feldspar: The most important flux in ceramics. Potassium and sodium feldspars melt at relatively low temperatures, forming glass that densifies the body and reduces porosity, resulting in low water absorption and exceptional strength.
The proportions of these three groups determine the type and quality of the final ceramic. A basic wall tile may contain more clay, while a high-end porcelain tile will include a larger share of pure kaolin, silica, and feldspar.
Porcelain Ceramics: The Peak of Material Engineering
Porcelain is not just “another ceramic”—it’s the result of highly engineered formulations and precise production processes.
Its composition typically includes:
- High levels of pure, white-firing kaolin for strength and brightness.
- Feldspar as the main flux for low water absorption.
- Silica for extreme hardness and wear resistance.
Porcelain tiles are pressed under much higher pressure and fired at higher temperatures (above 1200°C). The result is a nearly pore-free, ultra-dense body with water absorption close to zero (below 0.5%). This makes porcelain ideal for wet areas, outdoor spaces, and façades—resistant to frost, extreme temperature changes, and UV radiation.
Collections like PMA Porcelain embody this advanced engineering, offering products designed to withstand even the harshest environmental and industrial conditions.
Beyond the Body: Glaze and Additives
While the body provides structure, much of the beauty and functionality of ceramics comes from the glaze—a thin glassy layer fused to the surface during the final firing.
- Glaze Components include:
- Glass formers (mainly silica)
- Fluxes (to lower melting temperature)
- Stabilizers (e.g., alumina to control flow)
- Pigments and opacifiers (e.g., metal oxides for color, zirconium for opacity)
Glaze not only creates color, shine, and texture, but also seals the surface, making tiles easy to clean, resistant to stains, and durable against chemicals. In luxury collections like IMPERIO, the brilliance, depth, and refinement of the glaze create the unique aesthetic appeal.
Special additives such as talc, wollastonite, and alumina may also be introduced to enhance thermal shock resistance, electrical properties, or durability.
From Raw Materials to Finished Product: The Production Journey
- Preparation: Raw materials are weighed, mixed with water, and milled into a slurry.
- Drying: The slurry is spray-dried into a uniform powder.
- Forming: The powder is pressed under immense pressure into tile shapes.
- Drying: Tiles are slowly dried to remove moisture.
- Glazing: A thin layer of glaze is applied via spraying or digital printing.
- Firing: Tiles are fired in long kilns at extreme heat, then cooled—where all the chemical reactions occur, turning raw material into a dense, durable ceramic.
Control at each step—especially the careful selection and balance of raw materials—is what sets premium brands like PMA | IMPERIO apart.
Why High-Quality Ceramics Matter
The quality of ceramics directly depends on the purity of raw materials and precision in production. Poor-quality clays or careless firing result in porous, fragile tiles prone to cracking, staining, and frost damage.
Investing in high-quality porcelain ensures long-lasting beauty, durability, and performance. Proper installation—using premium adhesives and grouts like those from PMA—is equally vital, guaranteeing strong bonding and years of flawless use.
Final Thoughts: From Nature to Masterpiece
The journey begins in clay, feldspar, and silica mines, peaks in the blazing heat of kilns, and ends as elegant, resilient ceramics in our homes and cities. The raw materials are the DNA of every ceramic, defining its strength, appearance, and longevity.
Whether in PMA’s tough porcelain façades or IMPERIO’s luxurious interior finishes, it all comes down to intelligent selection and precise engineering of these raw ingredients.
Armed with this knowledge, you’re no longer just a buyer—you’re an informed decision-maker who truly understands the value of what lies beneath your feet or on your walls.