Fully imitates granite. We make artificial marble with our own hands

Marble, which has excellent decorative properties, has always been appreciated in construction. But due to the high cost of the material, not everyone can afford to use it to decorate premises. Therefore, as an alternative, an artificial material has been developed that imitates stone. It has been named artificial marble.

Description and types of material

Artificial marble is a material that is used mainly in plumbing, in the manufacture of running, facing materials. Window sills, bathtubs, countertops, steps, decorative fountains and sculptures are made of it. It is used to decorate offices and administrative premises.

The term "artificial marble" means not only cast marble, which is an imitation natural stone... There are other varieties of it, which are widely used in construction, industry and interior decoration.

Varieties of artificial marble:

  1. casting;
  2. donkey (or plaster);
  3. ground (or chipped);
  4. flexible (or liquid).

Casting

The most popular is cast marble - a composite material based on cured polyester resin and mineral filler. The filler can be marble chips, quartz sand, etc.

Depending on which resins and fillers are chosen, the material can be made as an imitation of natural marble, jasper, granite, malachite, onyx.

This is how the cast artificial marble looks in the photo.

Oselkovy

Whetstone marble is a colored plaster mass mixed with glue water, which is applied to the base and brought to a mirror-like shine by polishing and grinding. It can be tinted for various materials such as lapis lazuli, malachite, different types marble.

Gypsum is the main material for the production of whetstone marble. Special substances are added to it that slow down the setting of gypsum. The most commonly used glue is diluted in water.

The advantages of gypsum marble are low weight and high strength. With its help, lightweight structures can be erected. The use of this material in living quarters helps to improve the microclimate: it absorbs excess moisture or gives it away if the room is too dry.

Photo of donkey marble

Ground (microcalcite)

Crushed or crushed marble is a finely dispersed filler of mineral origin. It is a white or gray powdery substance. It is made by grinding white marble.

This material is distinguished by its strength, low chemical activity, resistance to ultraviolet rays. It has a bright white color and practically does not absorb moisture. Most often it is used for the production of plastic products, paints and varnishes, abrasive cleaners, paper, linoleum, etc.

Liquid

This type of marble is one of the newest materials for decoration. It contains marble chips and acrylic polymers.

Liquid marble is highly flexible, lightweight and environmentally friendly. It can be easily cut with scissors or a knife and glued to walls instead of wallpaper. Using this material, you can get a perfectly flat, seamless surface. Therefore, it is often used for cladding structures of irregular shape, such as arches, columns, spherical objects.

Application of liquid marble

Production of cast artificial marble

The manufacturing technology of the material is quite simple and will only require special equipment, premises, time and financial resources.

Equipment

To obtain cast marble, a small set of equipment is used:

  • casting forms (matrices);
  • gelcoat spray;
  • mixer for mixing the composition;
  • brushes for smearing forms.

Molds for marble production are made on the basis of polyurethane rubber. High-quality matrices, which are characterized by strength and not prone to strong deformations, are very expensive. However, their cost pays off in full, since the production has a high profitability.

Composition of raw materials

For the manufacture of the material, acrylic or polyester resin and marble chips are mixed in a ratio of 4: 1. For linking, you can also use cement mortar, plaster of paris, lime mortar with the addition of cement. But most often it is resins that are used, since they provide high strength of the material.

The function of the filler is sometimes performed by decorative materials (colored sand, pebbles, colored quartz). In this case, the finished products are not an analogue of natural stone, but in principle the new kind finishing materials.

To achieve the required color, mineral pigments are added to the mixture. The material is made in different colors, with splashes and stains. For this purpose, a special pigment mixing technique is used. Pigments not only color the material, but also make it more resistant to external influences. The outer protective gelcoat layer gives the coating a glossy sheen.

Production technology

The material manufacturing technology is very simple and labor-intensive. It provides for the preparation of the matrix, mixing the polyester resin and filler, pouring the resulting mixture into the matrix and curing it.

The artificial marble casting process can be divided into the following stages:

  1. Molds are polished, material is applied to prevent adhesion.
  2. Gelcoat is applied to the molds. For this purpose, a special installation or a spray cup is used.
  3. The gelcoat is curing.
  4. A mixture of polyester resin, filler, pigments and hardener is prepared.
  5. The mixture is poured into molds.
  6. The molds are vibrated to remove air from the mixture.
  7. The material is cured.
  8. Products are removed from the mold.
  9. Further processing of the material is carried out (in some cases).

In the video, the manufacture of cast marble and sinks from it:

DIY cast marble

It is quite possible to make artificial cast marble on your own. You just need to purchase all the components of the material, molds for pouring and follow the instructions.

To make cast marble you will need:

  • polyurethane casting mold;
  • film;
  • mixer;
  • brush.

In production, CaMg (CO3) 2 is used as a filler, and Butanox M-50 is used as a hardener. At home, pebbles and cement can be used instead of these substances.

Materials for the manufacture of artificial marble:

  1. sand (river) - 2 parts;
  2. cement - 1 part;
  3. water - 0.2 parts;
  4. pebbles (as filler) - 25% of the total;
  5. pigment - 1% of the weight of the cement;
  6. plasticizer - 1% of the weight of the cement;
  7. gelcoat.

The sequence of making cast marble:

  • A dry and clean form is greased with a gelcoat and allowed to dry.
  • Mix sand, pebbles and cement. A plasticizer, a coloring pigment and water (80%) are added to the mixture, mixed with a mixer to obtain a plastic mass (about 30 seconds). Then add the rest of the water and mix the mixture again until smooth.
  • The mixture is laid out in a mold, the excess is removed from the edges, covered with foil and left to harden for 10 hours.
  • The material is removed from the mold and left outside for some time.

In this simple way, you can get a material that can be used in its original form or subjected to further processing to give the desired shape.

Technology self-made artificial cast marble is shown in the video below:

Pros and cons, reviews

Although the composition of artificial marble is fundamentally different from its natural counterpart, it has the same technical properties. Moreover, the level of strength and durability of artificially produced material is several times higher than that of natural material.

The main advantages of artificial marble:

  • has a high level of mechanical strength, is not afraid of impacts;
  • it is durable, has a long period of operation;
  • almost does not conduct heat and electricity, has a high level of fire safety. Therefore, it can be used to decorate heating radiators, electric stoves, etc .;
  • the material does not heat up, does not exfoliate, is not afraid of the effects of acids, alkalis, solvents, does not absorb grease, and does not leave stains on it. Due to this practicality, it is often used to decorate kitchens and bathrooms, flooring in residential, industrial and public premises;
  • does not emit harmful substances, is environmentally friendly;
  • thanks to the external gelcoat coating, it looks aesthetically pleasing and can be used for decorative purposes.

It combines the hardness of natural stone and ease of processing. Unlike natural marble, the artificial material provides a greater degree of comfort and is always warm to the touch.

Among the disadvantages artificial stone many note that it cannot be considered a complete analogue of natural material. It feels more like plastic to the touch, and the top coat looks like polyurethane.

In addition, the gel coat often cracks over time. As a result, the material is discolored and destroyed.

Average cost of artificial marble

The marble manufacturing process requires minimal investment and very high profitability. Initially, the costs are made for the purchase of equipment, raw materials, rental of premises and the manufacture of dies. In the future, the cost of goods is determined mainly by the cost of raw materials.

The cost of production is estimated at about $ 5 per square meter. m., while the market price reaches $ 30 per 1 sq. m. or even higher.

Various are considered to be as beautiful, strong and durable as products made from real natural stone. After all, its production has been improved over 30 years and has achieved high results.

Marble not only looks aesthetically pleasing and sophisticated, but is also found in interior design. Best of all, it manifests itself in the design of the kitchen and bathroom, where countertops are made of it or used as a covering for floors and walls. The living room has a small marble coffee table or a marble fireplace can set the mood for the entire space. Natural marble has only one drawback: this material is not cheap. If you want to bring the aesthetics of marble into your interior, but are not ready to spend a lot, use one of the alternatives we found.

1. Local manufacturer

If you are attracted not only appearance marble, but also the properties of natural stone (which is important, for example, for a kitchen countertop), you can save money by choosing a not the most popular manufacturer. Italian marble is several times more expensive than Russian marble, but outwardly they differ not so much. Yes, marble from an alternative supplier may not have such a bright pattern, but the strength and durability of the product may be even higher.

2. Artificial stone

Modern technologies make it possible to simulate natural materials so that at first glance the difference is not noticeable. Artificial stone, durable and practical, allows you to create seamless surfaces and is cheaper, but it loses the uniqueness of the pattern and its natural charm.

3. Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles can mimic marble, opening up wide possibilities for decorating floors and walls. If you are not embarrassed by the tile joints, you can even arrange the countertop in this way. Natural marble is much stronger than tiles, on which chips and scratches easily appear, so it is better not to lay it on the floor in places with great cross-country ability, but confine yourself to the walls in the bathroom or a kitchen apron.

4. Porcelain stoneware

But porcelain stoneware tiles will withstand more active use and are adapted for seamless installation. Porcelain stoneware also perfectly imitates the marble surface and is presented in a large assortment at different manufacturers... It will be an excellent choice for bathroom, kitchen or hallway floors.

5. Laminam

Laminam is the name of an innovative material that can also be attributed to porcelain stoneware. The difference is that Laminam is produced in 3 x 1 m panels and is thinner than standard porcelain stoneware tiles. This means that they can cover not only walls and floors with a minimum number of cracks, but also furniture facades, kitchen countertops and any other surface suitable for cladding.

6. Vinyl tiles

Vinyl tiles look "warmer" than stone surfaces, although the marbled finish on quality vinyl is fairly accurate. In return, the material offers other advantages: durability, low cost and amazing ease of installation. Vinyl tiles Easy to stick on top of any flooring so you can do it yourself in just a weekend.

7. Self-adhesive film

Many people associate film with bad taste, but in vain: the print quality has reached great heights, and the film can look stylish and interesting. For a low price, you can update your coffee table or make the interior walls of your shelves or kitchen cabinets more interesting. Be careful not to create wrinkles or bubbles when gluing, and do not use the film in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink, where it will quickly deteriorate from water.

8. Venetian plaster

You can imitate marble with your own hands. The most convincing is the wall painting with the help of Venetian plaster. Experience in the art field will not be superfluous, but even if you don't have it, it's definitely worth a try! Video tutorial to help you.

Currently, imitation of marble is gaining more and more popularity; it is even used in decoupage technique. It is worth considering what options for artificial imitation of this material exist.

The imitation of the marble coating is created using artificial stone. It is produced in 3 ways: using concrete, gypsum, polyester resins.

By adding fillers, hardeners and dyes and mixing them correctly, the effect of streaks, stains and streaks is created. All these elements repeat the pattern of natural marble, which has the following advantages:

  • strength;
  • heat resistance, i.e. the stone does not burn in fire and does not conduct electric current;
  • environmentally friendly material, does not emit toxins even when burning;
  • the tile is not afraid of chemicals, acids, alkalis, solvents, acetone and gasoline;
  • the material is moisture resistant, not subject to decay and delamination;
  • impact-resistant artificial marble tiles;
  • heat resistant.

In addition, artificial marble is beneficial in the following indicators:

  1. Leaves no waste.
  2. It is very easy to look after him.
  3. Not as expensive as natural marble.
  4. You can choose the desired color and shape.

It is used to make:

  • window sills;
  • tile;
  • countertops;
  • bathrooms;
  • stairs;
  • vases;
  • bar counters;
  • fountains;
  • sinks, etc.

Artificial marble can often be imitated for finishing electrical appliances, stoves, ovens, heating radiators.

Marbling - marble painting technique


This marbled painting technique is carried out decorative way... On the surface of any product, a pattern is created that resembles a marble coating. If the work is done with high quality, sometimes it is difficult to recognize the imitation of marble. This technique is used for painting tables, countertops, floors, fireplaces, columns. Painting in this way is also applied to wooden objects, for example, candlesticks, frames for paintings or photographs. Despite the laboriousness of the work, the painting technique is quite simple.

Decorative Venetian marbled plaster

The use of Venetian plaster (imitation marble) is characterized by a pattern that imitates stone. This material has a number of advantages:

  • hides small wall defects;
  • allows air to pass through;
  • serves for quite a long time;
  • unpretentious in care.

Plastering technique


How to make Venetian marble? If you decide to apply on the walls yourself Venetian plaster, then first of all, read the instructions for the material, talk with experts in this field, since it's not easy to start from scratch.

When imitating marble with your own hands, the following sequence must be observed:

  1. Surface preparation. The wall needs to be leveled, primed and plastered.
  2. After that, the facing material is mixed with a small amount of water. It is ready for application to the wall.
  3. To form the pattern, each layer is applied in an arcuate motion. You can also look at a photo with the proposed patterns and repeat the movements of the drawings. After plastering, the surface of the wall can be given glossy look while applying a special wax.

In addition, there is a special powder on sale, adding which to the mixture, when applied, you get a tile that imitates marble. Thus, a similar method of decoration can become available to everyone.

Venetian plaster implies not only imitation of marble, you can make a surface based on granite or stone. It is necessary to apply the plaster in at least 2 layers. Only in a multi-layer application will it be easier to add volume and depth to the surface.

To apply finishing material you will need a spatula. He will forcefully press 1 layer into another. The material is applied stroke by stroke. Wait until the previous coat is completely dry before applying the next coat. At the end, processing and cleaning of the layers is done.

Frescoes or marble tiles look very nice on the wall. At the same time, the interior of the room changes beyond recognition. If you decide to simulate a complex marbled design, start with small spaces. These can be radius walls, fireplaces, arches, etc.

How to make decoupage?


There are many ways to imitate marble in decoupage. You can make a marbled cardboard box, a frame with an image, a plate, etc. If you decide to make a marble box from a simple box, then the sequence of works on imitation of marble (master class) will consist of the following positions:

  1. Pre-varnish the product.
  2. Choose the color of the marble surface.
  3. Prime the lid of the box and sand it with sandpaper. Circle the place where you will glue the decoupage picture.
  4. Use a foam sponge to tint the surface. Sand and varnish if necessary. For depth and transparency of the box, each stage of the work is fixed with varnish.
  5. If you have prepared a light background for painting, then each next layer will be darker.
  6. Using crumpled paper, apply strokes to the surface of the box and a small splatter. This color will be your marble blotches. On top, varnish is applied in 3 layers, sanded if necessary.
  7. The next blotches are made in a different color. So, there are already 3 colors involved.
  8. Now you should draw the veins on the surfaces made, for this, 4 colors are already taken. The paint is taken with a sponge and dipped in water, the water is slightly squeezed out, and lines are drawn on the surface of the box. Rub the lines a little, you will get the impression of a slight haze or blur. Fix the resulting result with varnish.
  9. After that, acrylic paint is taken. white and is divorced with water, it is blown out with a tube into blurred lines, and small marble veins are obtained.
  10. With a different paint color, paint additional veins with a thin brush. Apply varnish and wait until dry. Thus, they made a box imitating a marble casket.

In the same technique, you can make a decorative cutting board, photo frame, plate, etc.

Dear readers, if you want to learn how to imitate a granite surface, then I advise you to study this material.

It is about this effect of imitation that will be discussed on this page.

So, since this interested you, then first of all let's talk about how you can achieve this effect. : First of all you will need acrylic paints suitable shades, sea sponge to simulate marble chips and good varnish, which has a covering ability.

Before starting work, we first skin the countertop or other decor item, and then cover it with white primer, thanks to which the surface is smoothed.

Next, we proceed to applying spots in a chaotic manner moistened with water and then wrung out with a sea sponge, while trying to change the direction of the sponge all the time.

After you go through one shade, apply the other shades in the same way. It is desirable that you have at least 4 shades.

After the paint has dried and you are satisfied with the spotty effect of marble chips, it's time to fix everything with varnish. It is quite possible to use acrylic varnish from the tikkurila kiva company, since first you need to apply at least 10 layers of this varnish with intermediate drying. Here it is better not to rush and devote a lot of time to each layer to dry. For example, we cover with one layer of varnish in the morning and another in the evening. so it will take you 5 days. After 4 layers dry, you can start sanding with a sandpaper.

It is advisable to grind the last layer after 2 hours with speckled (waxed) paper, which to wrap a bar with smoothed edges. The fact is that the varnish coating is still fresh inside after 2 hours and polishing with wax paper will smooth the surface well. but if, nevertheless, small uneven areas remain on the surface, then after 4 hours you can sand it a little, wash off the dust from the skin with a slightly damp cloth and cover everything with a finishing glassy varnish.

I hope this description will be useful to you and you will be able to transform your home :) I wish you success in reworking and decorating decor items under imitation of marble or granite chips !

1. Artificial marble according to Borchardt.

a) The mass is prepared from pure quartz sand, carbon dioxide, talc and gypsum, to which finely ground coloring matter can be added. The sand used must consist of pure silica, and for this purpose it is washed and cleaned of all organic constituents. After the sand is completely dry, 5-6% of tripoli is added to it. Then, 6-7 carbon dioxide, 3 talc, 4 gypsum, 3 feldspar are added as a binding agent for every 100 sand. All components are mixed together with a small amount of water. The resulting mass is laid out in molds and, after complete drying, is fired in a white-hot heat in an oven without a blower.

b) Take 80 gypsum and 20 carbonic lime, finely grind, mix and knead with a mixture consisting of 1000 distilled water, 1080 sulphate lime.

c) Take 1000 water, 1440 glue, 1000 sulfuric acid. Then they put the dough into molds and, when it hardens, take it out, dry it for two hours, grind and polish in the usual way. Finally, the object is dipped in a 70 ° C linseed oil bath, after which it is dried and smeared with stearin. Aniline paints are recommended for coloring. d) Artificial marble pale yellow to white. 30 coarse white sand, 42 chalk, 24 rosin, 4 burnt lime.

e) Greenish. 28 coarse white sand. 42 chalk, 2 ultramarine blue, 24 rosin, 4 burnt lime.

f) Bodily. 28 coarse white sand, 42 chalk, 1 ultramarine blue, 1 cinnabar, 24 rosin, 4 burnt lime.

2. Imitation of marble. a) According to Van der Steen. First, prepare water in which gypsum should be ground by adding wood glue and resin to it; the glue is usually dissolved in warm water, and the resin in a warm turpentine bath. In the water prepared in this way, gypsum is diluted so that the entire mass is enough to fill the mold. After that, the paints necessary for painting the marble are added to the mixture; paints should be prepared in special containers. The colored marble prepared in this way is then poured into molds of plaster, cement or rubber for even plates on glass or stone boards. This marble layer is applied 4 mm thick and then a layer of dry gypsum is sieved to remove the excess water used to dissolve the colored gypsum. As soon as this layer of powdered gypsum is thoroughly moistened with water contained in excess in the colored gypsum, a thin layer of well-dissolved, but not colored gypsum is knocked out onto it, and a canvas or thinner is on it. This is followed by a layer of dissolved gypsum, to which crushed rubble is mixed. This last layer depends on the thickness you want to give to the object made from the reconstituted marble. As soon as the mass hardens enough (after 6-8 hours), it is removed from the plate or taken out of the mold, wiped with pumice and the pores in the mass are filled with dissolved gypsum, painted with the main color of the cast object. To make the surface waterproof, it is treated with potassium silicate, and either immersed in a bath or smeared with liquid with a brush. When the mass is completely dry, the surface is polished, and the novelty of the polishing process is that it is polished with a swab wrapped in a rag and soaked in polish compiled according to special recipes:

I. White varnish for light artificial marble: 100 bleached gummilac, 600 alcohol, 25 finely ground plaster.

II. Brown polish: 100 gummilac orange, 600 alcohol, 25 finely ground gypsum.

First, wipe the polished object with a swab soaked in alcohol, then apply the polish with another swab and continue rubbing with a swab until some adhesion is noticeable. The layer of polish thus formed is treated with the first swab soaked in alcohol until a completely smooth surface is obtained.

III. Black varnish. a) To do this, take a little black aniline paint on a rag. To achieve an even and very shiny polish, it is necessary to moisten the cloth covering the tampon from time to time with a few drops of oil. b) By Size. Objects made from ordinary limestone - vases, figures, etc., are heated for 12 hours, at a pressure of 5 atmospheres, with boiling water or steam. Then they are placed in a bath consisting of a solution of alum at 5 ° B., in which they remain from 1 day to several weeks. In this way, the stone acquires greater hardness and the ability to perceive polish. If they want to paint the stone, then aniline dyes dissolved in water are added to the mass. c) According to Ostermeier. Lime milk is mixed with finely crushed marble, or milk of lime with chalk, until a kind of gruel is obtained. Based on a study of Pompeian cement, Ostermeier recommends adding to this mass a sufficient amount of coarsely crushed limestone. This cement dries and hardens soon.

3. Imitation of granite. Mix clean fine sand, pyrite or some other mass containing flint, with freshly burned and crushed lime in the following proportion of 10 sand or pyrite and 1 lime. Lime is extinguished by the moisture content of the sand, corrodes the flint and forms a thin layer around each grain of silicon. Upon cooling, the mixture is softened with water. Then take 10 crushed granite and 1 lime and knead into place. Both mixtures are placed in a metal mold so that the mixture of sand and lime forms the very middle of the object, and the mixture of granite and lime forms an outer shell from 6 to 12 mm (depending on the thickness of the object being prepared). Finally, the mass is pressed and hardened by air drying. The coloring agent is iron ore and iron oxide, which are hot mixed with granular granite. If you want to impart special hardness to objects formed from the above composition, then they are placed in potassium silicate for an hour and subjected to heat at 150 ° C.

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