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Our company is an import and export company specializing in stone products. Our product range includes granite slabs, marble slabs, countertop slabs, composite panels, carvings, custom shapes, engineering panels, sandstone, slate, mosaics, etc. We have a significant advantage especially in countertop slabs. We enjoy a certain level of influence within the industry and are a dynamic and competitive company.
Now, let's share some insights on stone care together.
Diamonds are favored for their timeless beauty, showing that "timelessness" is the essence of how "stones" realize their value. In recent years, the stone maintenance industry has presented boundless business opportunities with countless related products emerging around it. According to the head of Japan's MIYAKI Corporation, as an important "tool" for stone maintenance, stone chemical protectants have gone through three stages of development. After learning from the failures of the first two generations of protectants, the penetrating type protectant gradually achieved today's success and has become the leading product in the current market.
Looking back at history, the initial effects of stone protectants were not satisfactory and even brought about "after-effects" on stones.
The first generation of protectants - wax, also the earliest protectant. It works by forming a dense wax film on the surface of the stone through coating, thus preventing water, oil, dust, and other contaminants from entering. However, the wax completely blocks the micro-pores of the stone, hindering its breathability. This prevents moisture inside the stone or under it from being normally discharged, easily causing stains, wet marks, efflorescence, and other "ailments" on the stone. Additionally, the wax film is sticky and prone to pollution, forming wax dirt that is difficult to clean. The wear resistance of the wax film is also poor, requiring frequent waxing to maintain its luster. If certain areas are frequently waxed, the color of the stone in those areas may deepen, losing the original texture and color sense of the stone, turning the initial protective purpose into artificial damage. Wax application is easy only on the ground; it is quite difficult on vertical surfaces and high-rise buildings. Even more challenging is that once the wax penetrates into the stone, it is generally very difficult to remove unless the stone is polished down, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and uneconomical. Therefore, wax is a "temporary" protectant. As people gradually recognized the properties of wax, its use as a stone protectant has now become rare. Because the use of wax brought new "ailments" to the stone, specialized stone chemicals - wax removers - have emerged specifically for removing wax.
As people began to take the maintenance industry seriously, stone protectants gradually became the "new favorite" of the maintenance industry, but as transitional products, membrane coating protectants still could not thoroughly solve the problems.
The second generation of protectants - non-penetrating membrane coating protectants. These protectants include both colored and uncolored series. They form a dense protective membrane on the surface of the stone, isolating it from pollutants, thereby achieving the purposes of stain prevention, waterproofing, and oil resistance. These products are usually made by dissolving or diluting some high molecular materials with organic solvents to extract the protectant, such as resin materials, organosilicon, etc. Compared to wax, these protectants greatly improve in terms of water resistance, stain resistance, lifespan, and scope of use. However, their breathability is still relatively poor, making it difficult for moisture inside the stone or under it to be discharged, which can cause "diseases" in the stone. Moreover, the chemical film changes the texture and color of the stone. Additionally, they perform poorly in resisting ultraviolet rays, aging, durability, etc., and the film is prone to wear, peeling, and falling off, requiring frequent repairs. Since these protectants require the organic solvent to volatilize before forming a solidified film layer, the volatile substances are toxic, flammable, and harmful to people during construction, as well as environmentally polluting. Membrane coating protectants, as quick protection products, have been adopted by some companies. From an overall perspective, however, this type of protectant is still used more in lower-end products.
In light of the issues with the first two generations of protectants, industry experts began striving to develop more practical new types of protectants, transitioning stone protection from merely focusing on the "surface" to fundamentally treating the stone from the "inside out."
The third-generation new type of penetrating and impregnating protectants successfully resolved the problems of previous protectants, such as lack of breathability and poor protective effects. Penetrating protectants are currently the most widely applied and practically effective protectants. Their principle involves using a solvent to penetrate organic matter into the surface and deeper layers of the stone, forming a protective film on both the surface and deeper layers to achieve the purposes of stain prevention, waterproofing, and oil resistance. Among these, the impregnating protectants and sealants produced by Japan's MIYAKI Corporation stand out as top performers. Relevant experts introduced that this new type of natural-color protectant is a highly adaptable protectant. Not only does it deliver outstanding results, but it also has unique features: nano-level solvents, a single application can penetrate 3mm to 5mm into the stone, forming an all-weather protective layer that provides long-lasting protection for the stone. It protects the stone from surface weathering, degradation, whitening, rust stains, and other phenomena. It protects the stone from erosion and contamination by acidic, alkaline liquids, and dirt. It significantly reduces the water absorption rate of the stone, preventing cracks caused by freezing internal moisture in the stone, enhancing the stone's stain-resistant performance, and inhibiting the penetration of dirt. Dust and contaminants can only float on the surface of the stone, reducing daily cleaning workload and labor costs, conserving valuable resources. It does not affect or damage the natural color and texture of the stone or tiles. Long-lasting protection can last for 5 to 12 years.
It can be seen that the new type of penetrating and impregnating protectants can better address stone ailments by preventing them from the inside. With the emergence of new protectants, the former "chronic diseases" of stone are gradually being overcome by us. We believe that through our joint efforts, we will make stones shine with "luster" forever.