Apparently invisible. Chemistry in ceramics.
Sep 14, 2026 · 23 min · 8 segments
The growing use of large ceramic slabs, with increasingly larger formats and reduced thicknesses, has introduced new challenges in terms of processing, handling, installation and safety. In this…
[instrumental music] Let's start by saying that the growing use of large ceramic slabs has significantly expanded the range of ceramics applications, taking the material well behind its more traditional uses.
Uh, large surface areas, reduced thicknesses, and new applications have also introduced specific requirements in terms of handling, processing, installation, and safety.
It is a, of course, post-firing process that generally involves applying a reinforcing mesh or mat, usually made of glass fiber, to the back of the slab and bonding it to the ceramic surface with a- an adhesive system.
But why reinforce the back of a large slabs? Well, one of the main functions of back meshing is, of course, to improve safety in the event of breakage.
What do I mean? I mean that the mesh applied to the back helps hold the slab fragments together if the slab breaks.
This is particularly important in vertical application where falling fragments could pose a risk to people and property.
For this reason, back reinforcement is used, for example, in wall cladding and facade applications, including said facade system in which slabs are installed vertically, as we said.
However, the function of the mesh is not necessarily limited to containing fragments, of course.
The reinforcement can also improve the slab's behavior during handling, cutting, drilling, and other processing operations, reducing the risk of cracks spreading.
We are seeing that the treatment can therefore serve two different purposes, I assume.
On the one hand, it can improve safety in the event of breakage by helping to keep fragments together.
On the other hand, it can provide additional reinforcement during some of the stresses the slab may encounter in subsequent processing, transport, handling, and use.
What do I mean? I mean that back meshing is often associated with large, thin slab, where the combination of la- very large dimensions and a thickness of just a few millimeters, two, three, make the man-ma-management of the mechanical stresses particularly important.
But this is not completely true because the technology is not necessarily limited to ultra-thin slabs.
Reinforcement can also be applied to thicker products when the intended use, size, subsequent processing, or specific safety requirements make it appropriate.
What matters is the combination of the product's characteristics and the performance required.
[instrumental music] Let's start by saying that the growing use of large ceramic slabs has significantly expanded the range of ceramics applications, taking the material well behind its more traditional uses.
Uh, large surface areas, reduced thicknesses, and new applications have also introduced specific requirements in terms of handling, processing, installation, and safety.
It is a, of course, post-firing process that generally involves applying a reinforcing mesh or mat, usually made of glass fiber, to the back of the slab and bonding it to the ceramic surface with a- an adhesive system.
But why reinforce the back of a large slabs? Well, one of the main functions of back meshing is, of course, to improve safety in the event of breakage.
What do I mean? I mean that the mesh applied to the back helps hold the slab fragments together if the slab breaks.
This is particularly important in vertical application where falling fragments could pose a risk to people and property.
For this reason, back reinforcement is used, for example, in wall cladding and facade applications, including said facade system in which slabs are installed vertically, as we said.
However, the function of the mesh is not necessarily limited to containing fragments, of course.
The reinforcement can also improve the slab's behavior during handling, cutting, drilling, and other processing operations, reducing the risk of cracks spreading.
We are seeing that the treatment can therefore serve two different purposes, I assume.
On the one hand, it can improve safety in the event of breakage by helping to keep fragments together.
On the other hand, it can provide additional reinforcement during some of the stresses the slab may encounter in subsequent processing, transport, handling, and use.
What do I mean? I mean that back meshing is often associated with large, thin slab, where the combination of la- very large dimensions and a thickness of just a few millimeters, two, three, make the man-ma-management of the mechanical stresses particularly important.
But this is not completely true because the technology is not necessarily limited to ultra-thin slabs.
Reinforcement can also be applied to thicker products when the intended use, size, subsequent processing, or specific safety requirements make it appropriate.
What matters is the combination of the product's characteristics and the performance required.
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