Quartz Stone Buying Guide: Four Quick Tests to Identify High-Quality Slabs

For high-end home decoration, especially in areas demanding high hardness and durability like kitchen countertops, quartz stone remains the material of choice. This is due to its excellent properties: it is highly scratch-resistant, anti-aging, and non-flammable. However, the quality of quartz slabs on the market varies significantly, often leaving consumers uncertain about how to choose. Below are four simple and effective methods to quickly identify the true quality of quartz stone:

1. The Hydrochloric Acid Immersion Test: Exposing Adulterated Fillers

To maximize profits, some manufacturers substitute a portion of the quartz raw material with cheap fillers, such as Calcium Carbonate. Calcium carbonate reacts easily with acids, which means countertops made from such material can easily deteriorate when exposed to acidic liquids during use. Therefore, when purchasing, request a small sample and immerse it in a weak solution of hydrochloric acid or other acidic liquid.

Identification Principle: If the product contains calcium carbonate, it will immediately react with the acid, causing bubbles to appear. This indicates low quartz content and a significant quality flaw.

2. The Stain Permeability Test: Checking Internal Structure Density

High-quality quartz stone has a delicate, uniform structure with extremely low water absorption and strong anti-permeability. In contrast, inferior quartz slabs may look similar on the surface, but their internal structure is loose and porous. This weakness leads to high water absorption and easy penetration by stains.

Practical Method: Pour a small amount of a colored liquid, such as soy sauce, onto the quartz sample and let it sit. High-quality quartz countertops will show no signs of seepage even after a day. Inferior, loose quartz will show clear bleeding within a short time.

3. The Knife Scratch Test: Verifying Wear Resistance and Hardness

The main component of quartz stone is silicon dioxide, which boasts high hardness. Market standards dictate that quality quartz plates should have a quartz content of over 90%, ensuring high durability and resistance to cracking. Poor-quality slabs use inferior quartz sand, have high impurity content, and low surface hardness, making them easy to scratch.

Identification Method: Use a knife or key to scrape the surface of the sample. If noticeable white scratches are left behind, the quartz content is low, or the hardness is insufficient.

4. The Fire Test: Assessing Heat Resistance and Resin Content

The heat resistance of quartz is directly linked to its resin content. Inferior quartz often contains low-quality quartz sand and a high proportion of resin, which dramatically reduces its heat resistance.

Safety Test: Briefly apply a lighter or similar flame to the sample. High-quality quartz will not show visible burn marks from brief exposure. Low-quality products with excessive resin will quickly show scorching or melting signs.

By utilizing these four simple and effective identification methods, consumers can confidently avoid poor-quality products and ensure they select truly high-quality, durable quartz countertops, guaranteeing long-term satisfaction for their home improvements.