What are kitchen sinks made of today?

If we exclude products made of stainless steel, non-ferrous metals and glass, as well as exclusive and very expensive models made of natural stone, then all modern kitchen sinks are based on composite solutions. There are sinks made of granite, marble, quartz and ceramic composite, as well as products made of acrylic agglomerate based on mixed particles (artificial stone). Despite the presentable appearance, reminiscent of a stone, these are all artificial materials that have their pros and cons.

Often, buyers, when purchasing a composite sink for installation in the kitchen, mistakenly consider them products made of natural stone that will serve them forever. Indeed, the stony texture and skillful polishing create a complete illusion of a natural product. And when customers suddenly encounter cracking and stubborn stains from a hot pan, they are genuinely outraged. In fact, the blame for this should be shared equally between unscrupulous manufacturers, crafty marketers, and uninformed consumers with inflated expectations. You need to clearly understand that for 150 – 200 "evergreen" it is impossible to buy a product made of natural stone, which costs much more. And what is popularly called a granite or marble sink is the same composite "alloy", which is not as flawless as natural stone.

Any modern sink, the name of the material of which mentions quartz, granite, marble or ceramics, is not pieces of natural stone glued together, but a polymer composition that includes natural or artificial stone chips, or powdered clay, which are mixed with polyester (acrylic resin). From this mixture, hot molding is used to make kitchen sinks. It is cheaper to use chips than a whole block of stone, and it is easier to form a cast mixture than to machine a monolith. Sinks made of composite materials are made by vibration casting, which allows to eliminate the formation of pores and obtain any shape of the finished product with a deep bowl. The approximate composition of the composite material includes 70 – 95% stone chips, 5 – 25% polyester or acrylic resins, as well as a small amount of coloring pigment. The presence of solid stone particles gives composite sinks scratch resistance, reliable bonding of crumbs with polymer resin makes the product elastic and resistant to deformation, and with the help of a pigment dye, products of dozens of different colours and shades become available to the consumer.

The resistance of the sink to scratches is affected by the hardness of the stone chips. In this regard, marble can be considered not the best choice — it is mainly composed of calcite with a hardness of only 2.5 – 3 on the Mohs scale. The hardness of granite is much higher and ranges from 5 to 7, while quartz has the highest hardness — 7. But the quality of washing also determines the percentage of mineral particles and resins. It is believed that the more crumbs and fewer resins in the composition of the material, the better it is. But even here it is not so simple. Increasing the solids content makes the sink more resistant to scratches and high temperatures. And the decrease in the proportion of stone particles with the increase in resin provides the sink with impact resistance, while increasing the susceptibility to scratches and thermal deformations.

But the ceramic composite, which is based on clay raw materials reinforced with mineral additives, is inferior in strength to materials made from artificial stone polymers. Yes, mineral glaze will protect the surface from scratches, but it will not prevent cracks from falling heavy objects. In addition, ceramic sinks for the kitchen have a porous structure, due to which the accumulated dirt enters them more strongly.

Sinks from composite materials of the world's leading brands

A wide variety of branded recipes from leading manufacturers of composite sinks provides customers with a wide choice. The most well-known brands in this group of products are Franke(Switzerland), Blanco (Germany), Schock (Germany), Alveus (Slovenia) and Omoikiri (Japan). In order to better understand what kind of multicomponent material we are talking about, one should not start from the name, in most cases containing the “granit” particle, but pay attention to the filler used in the composition. If the manufacturer refers to the use of granite chips, this indicates that you have a sink made of granite composite. And when quartz sand is mentioned, it is definitely a quartz composite. In addition, some materials may contain a mixture of various fillers with similar mechanical properties, or the type of stone chips is not explicitly indicated. Sinks made of such material are appropriate to distinguish in the general class of products made of artificial stone.

Franke

Fragranite. The company's own development based on a natural mineral mined in the Hirsau quarries in Germany. The composition of the material is quartzite, acrylic resin and dye. Due to high-temperature pigmentation and subsequent polymerization, the structure of the material does not change its colour over a long period of operation. The antibacterial additive Sanitized reduces the accumulation and growth of bacteria on the surface to almost zero. The product made of fragranite has a texture that is pleasant to the touch, and its surface is resistant to scratches, high temperatures and UV radiation. Fragranite sinks are currently available in 10 colours.

Tectonite. A patented material based on quartz and a synthetic SMC composite made up of a combination of fibreglass and polyesters. Easily molded and processed. The 3rd generation PiMC outer coating is applied to the material during the casting process, providing the finished product with the desired colour, special texture and appearance of natural granite. Possessing characteristics and properties similar to granite sinks, tectonite products cost about a third less.


Fraceram. The ceramic composite material is distinguished by a patented composition in which the components are selected taking into account the characteristics of the product in the kitchen. These sinks are somewhat stronger than conventional sinks, more resistant to alkalis, bleaches and acids, and are protected by a dirt-repellent protective layer that makes them easier to care for. But, ceramics, even improved ones, remain ceramics, and breaking it, especially in the kitchen, is quite simple.

Blanco

Silgranite. High quality granite composite with all properties of natural stone. Silgranit PuraDur is made up of 80% granite chips, to which acrylic resin, silicone additives, fluorine-containing polymers, minerals and coloring pigments are added. The surface of the product is similar in texture to polished stone. One of the most important advantages of Silgranit sinks is the ease of daily cleaning, which requires a minimum of time. The microporous structure of the material is sealed and prevents the accumulation of dirt and bacteria.

Pura Plus. Composite ceramics consisting of highly moldable clay and hardening mineral additives. The plasticity of clay allows the sink to take the desired shape, and minerals such as feldspar and quartz provide the product with a glossy surface and wear resistance. Further firing at a high temperature gives the sink strength and heat resistance. The manufacturer does not disclose the nuances of the prescription composition and features of the technological cycle.

Schock

Cristalite. Slightly rough stony surface of a sink made of 80% quartz sand and 15% acrylic resin. Prohyhienic 21 external hygienic coating provides high resistance against bacteria. Sinks have a pleasant surface texture, and also have high strength, maintainability in the event of an unforeseen breakdown and a fairly low price.

Cristadur. Premium composite material with a silky-matt surface, long-lasting colour and high hydrophobicity. The compacted structure due to reinforced fibreglass, according to the manufacturer, increases the strength of the product by 4 times compared to a conventional sink made of granite composite. This is an exclusive technology used only by Schock. In all other solutions, the material is close to Cristalite.

carbon. A novelty in the sanitary ware market, which is a material based on hydrocarbon fibre, which has extraordinary lightness and strength. If you drop something heavy into such a sink, you will be surprised — it is unlikely to crack or break. There is a glossy and matte finish. The disadvantages include a limited choice of colours — grey or black.


Alveus

Algranit. Composite material, which consists of 70% granite chips, acrylic resin and colour pigment. The manufacturer declares high strength, scratch resistance and temperature resistance of the composite, which can withstand 280 °C. Sinks from Alugranita are not sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and do not fade in the sun.

Granital. Composite containing 75 – 80% granite bonded with acrylic resin. The material has mechanical strength, low porosity, plasticity and thermal stability. The manufacturer offers 10 colour shades in black, brown and grey.

Granital Plus. Composite similar to Granital, complemented by shimmering metallic flecks that give the sink a premium look. The mechanical and physical properties of the sinks correspond to those of the base material. Available in 5 colours.

All Alveus sinks made of granite composite come with a 5-year warranty, which characterizes them as mid-range products. In the same Franke guarantee 10 years.

Omoikiri

Tetogranite. Reliable and durable material, consisting of 80% granite chips and 20% acrylic resin. It is characterized by a homogeneous structure, as well as high resistance to various chemicals. The formula of the material includes the antibacterial additive Tetoron based on synthetic fibers, which provides hygienic protection to the sink surface.

Artgranit. The material is based on a mixture of hard particles of quartz and granite, as well as a durable binder made from a proprietary composition. Modified polyester resins, created using our own original technology, have increased mechanical strength and heat resistance. The high proportion of natural chips with high hardness in Artgranit sinks makes them resistant to any mechanical damage — scratches, chips, deformations.

The manufacturer's warranty obligations for Tetogranit kitchen sinks are 8 years, and for Artgranit products — 15 years.

This is not the whole list of brands and technologies for the production of sinks made of artificial stone. Reginox (Netherlands), Longran (Italy), Elleci (Italy), Plados (Italy), Teka (Germany), as well as a number of east european brands can be added to the list of well-known manufacturers of products from artificial materials. Manufacturers' own marketing names of branded materials often hint at the granite "pedigree" of sinks, but do not always contain granite chips in their composition. Outwardly, sinks made of quartz granite, marble and any composition of mixed fillers made of artificial stone are very similar and, without knowing for sure, it is difficult to immediately say which material served as the basis.

Conclusions and recommendations

Summing up the acquaintance with the materials of sinks made of artificial composite, we can say that you should buy products of generally recognized brands, the products of which contain the optimal percentage of stone chips. So, for a granite product, the crumb content should be 80%, and for products made from quartz sand, its share in the composite material should be at least 80%. Practice shows that such products are much more durable than "comrades-in-arms", in which they decided to save on filler. A high-quality thick-walled sink is quite heavy, so its weight must be coordinated with the strength of the countertop.

Care of sinks made of artificial stone

In order for a product made of artificial material to last longer, it is undesirable to install a food waste grinder in it, which is a destructive source of vibration. Try to wash dirty dishes immediately and wipe the sink dry after use — this will help to avoid the accumulation of limescale on the bowl. To prevent a white mark from forming on the surface of the product, exclude hot dishes from contact with the wing and sink bowl, and when draining boiling water, first let cold water out of the mixer. And beware of heavy objects falling into the bowl, which is not insured by high technology from cracks.

If there is a choice between products made of ceramic, marble, granite or quartz composite, then here you need to link the low-cost, requirements and features of the operation of the kitchen sink. Ceramic products are the most inexpensive, but the most fragile. It is suitable for housewives who are not accustomed to overloading the bowl with accumulated dishes. A sink with marble chips is better and more expensive, but it scratches quite easily and can crack. But products made of granite or quartz chips are the best option in terms of the balance of quality, strength, durability and price. The brand's warranty obligations are also an indicator of the quality of the product: the manufacturer gives a 10-15 year warranty for the best samples of artificial stone sinks.

Major players in the market have invested a lot of money and effort in the development of exclusive compositions of artificial materials for kitchen sinks. Therefore, a good top-brand product is of excellent quality and, with proper operation and proper care, can last for decades. And fans of "balls", who believe that there is no point in overpaying for a brand, I would like to warn you: unforeseen problems should be expected from the products of unknown manufacturers.