Make artificial marble. Artificial durable cast marble, production technology. Cast stone (or cast marble, polymer concrete)

Finishing work using natural stone is a very expensive pleasure. Choosing natural marble of the appropriate tone is quite problematic. Master production artificial marble It’s not very difficult to do it yourself. Important point in the manufacture of artificial marble - a correctly made mold for casting.

In fact, artificial marble, the manufacturing technology of which is outlined in this article, is an alloy acrylic resins and mineral fillers. This material has sufficient strength, and when making artificial marble with your own hands, it can be given the desired shape. This could be a countertop for the kitchen or for a bar counter, steps, sink, sink or original vase for the garden.

Composition and special properties of artificial marble

The main component of cast marble is polyester resin and pigment mineral dyes and hardeners. Having mastered the mixing technique, you can get streaks and stains that are practically indistinguishable from stains and veins on natural marble.

The material is non-flammable and dielectric, i.e. does not conduct electric current, so it can be used in any finishing works oh no limits. Resistance to alkaline preparations and chemical solvents contributes to its hygiene and allows it to be used as countertops and kitchen sinks.
The composition of cast marble has a homogeneous structure, does not delaminate, is resistant to corrosion and is environmentally friendly pure material. The outer surface of cast marble is gelcoat and has decorative and protective functions. The filler is polyester resin mixed with multi-colored mineral chips and pigment dyes. To obtain a durable mass, a hardener is added.
More simple methods The manufacture of artificial marble involves the use of cement-concrete mixtures and crushed stone as a filler. Pebbles, quartz fine crushed stone and tinted sand are often used.

Manufacturing technology of artificial marble with concrete filler

This method is very simple and affordable, both in terms of manufacturing technology and costs. Due to this, this method is widely popular. Countertops and kitchen boards They are highly durable, and environmentally friendly materials are used in their production.

First of all, you will need a form (matrix) made of polyurethane, plastic, gypsum or other suitable material. You can make a frame from a corner or wood, and make the bottom glass. It is important that the surface of the casting mold is perfectly smooth and dry, and that the frame is detachable for ease of removal of the finished product. The mold can be ordered from a workshop, but it is quite expensive.
The inner surface of the mold is coated with gelcoat. Gel coats vary in color and environment of use. Choose a moisture-resistant gelcoat and only after it has completely dried, you can fill the form with concrete or gypsum filler. Slaked lime or clay is used as a plasticizer or filler.
Prepare the filler for the bulk of the product. To do this, mix sand and cement in a 2:1 ratio, add crushed stone or pebbles and a plasticizer as filler. Mix thoroughly, preferably in a mixer, until smooth. Pigment dye is added to different sectors of the container with filler in uneven portions and mixed until veins and spots are created.
The form is placed in a strictly horizontal position and a mass of artificial liquid marble is poured into it in small portions. Make sure that all the voids in the matrix are filled. Excess mortar is removed with a spatula, cover the top of the fill plastic film. Depending on the thickness, artificial marble dries within 24 hours under natural conditions and at positive temperature. The dried slab is removed from the mold and processed grinder and transparent polish.

Cast marble based on polyester resins

This method is a little more expensive, but the result is a beautiful texture. outer covering. The material is very durable and lightweight, resistant to external mechanical and chemical influences.

The first option is to prepare polymer concrete. Take 20-25% polyester resin and 80-75% filler. In this capacity you can use quartz sand or other neutral colored mineral, finely crushed into crumbs.
In the second case, instead of polyester resin, you can use a mixture of butacryl with AST-T in a ratio of 50x50 and add 50% crushed stone or quartz sand. Coloring is done with acrylic-based pigments.
The form is filled and leveled over the surface of the matrix with a spatula. As a filler, you can use a chipboard board cut 5 cm smaller than the contour of the form. It is pressed into the mass, and the protruding excess is leveled along the back side of the casting.
The dried and hardened product is removed from the mold and can be easily processed. It is amenable to grinding, drilling and other mechanical processing.

Making artificial marble from gypsum

Making artificial marble from gypsum at home is an affordable process and does not require any special expenses.

First, water is prepared, dry gypsum, wood glue and resin dissolved in a hot turpentine bath are added to it. Acrylic dyes or pigment are added to the thoroughly mixed mixture and stirred until streaks and streaks are obtained.
To obtain the milky color of artificial marble, add 1000 technical alcohol and 50 dry gypsum to 200 grams of white gumax. For a brown or coffee tone, use orange humilax. To obtain a black polish, aniline dye is used.
The liquid mass is poured into a plastic or polyurethane mold. To remove excess water and set faster, the mass is sprinkled with dry plaster on top. After 8 - 10 hours the product can be removed from the mold. To create a waterproof front surface, it is treated with potassium silicate.
Can be immersed in a bath or brushed generously on both sides. After drying, the surface is polished with soft felt or a similar abrasive agent with the addition of polish of the desired shade. The surface is processed until a perfectly smooth mirror surface is obtained.

Marble always looks very beautiful in the decoration of buildings and structures. Is it possible, instead of natural marble, to make artificial marble from gypsum with additives in conditions own home? It will be the same durable and reliable stone. Natural stone is very expensive to use. Its price is not affordable for every resident of the country. And its delivery presents many difficulties due to its impressive weight.

Hand-made marble has some advantages over natural materials:

artificial marble is relatively light in weight;
no need to have special tools for processing stone;
the material can be made in any room using available technologies;
low manufacturing costs.

Low weight allows you to avoid building a strong foundation. There is no need to strengthen the old foundation. No purchase required special machines and tools for processing marble slabs. There are several manufacturing options finishing slabs with your own hands. Finished artificial products are practically no different from natural ones. Walls lined with gypsum marble have the ability to breathe.

First you need to acquire a form or forms. They can be purchased in stores at a price of 2,700 rubles and above. Or you can do it yourself. Homemade forms will cost about 800 rubles. It's better to make several forms at once different sizes. The formwork is made from a piece of PVC panel, waterproof plywood and other similar materials. The finished formwork must support the weight of the mortar and the finished product.

The next stage is preparing the forms for work. First you need to treat the inside of the mold with Tsiatim lubricant or simple grease. It is better to use cheap solid oil. The frame, processed from the inside, is installed on flat surface, covered with plastic film. To make templates, you need silicone, which is poured into a mold. Its surface is corrected with a brush, which must first be moistened with detergent. Soap is not suitable for this purpose, as it contains alkali. It is not compatible with silicone at all.

After the mass has dried, it is removed from the mold. All unnecessary protrusions are cut off and the shells are sealed. The silicone is then placed back into the formwork for at least a week to fully mature. The time can be significantly reduced if you keep the form warm. After a week, you can finally remove it from the formwork and start making marble blocks.

Manufacturing of artificial stone

Before pouring the solution, you need to decide what material to make the marble from. You can cast it in white and then paint it. But such a product will not be durable. A more durable, but also expensive method is tinting the solution. With this method, the dye is introduced directly into the gypsum mixture. The working mixture poured into the mold is filled with dye and compacted. To do this, it is better to use a wire with which you need to pierce the entire mass over its entire area. This will allow air to escape and the dye to penetrate into the solution. Next, you can apply a reinforcing mesh and fill in the 2nd layer of dye. Cement can be added to the gypsum solution in proportions of 2:1. For better adhesion based on artificial stone make notches in the form of strips along the slab. An hour after pouring, the product will be ready for further work.

Stone from gypsum mixture, which does not contain cement, can be used for interior finishing work indoors. To carry out cladding work on the outside of the building, it is necessary to carry out several more operations to protect the material from natural phenomena. Artificial material treated with a primer and then coated with varnish. You can prepare a solution using another technology:

take 1 part of cement;
mix cement with 3 parts gypsum;
add 1/20 of the dyes;
introduce a polymer plasticizer.

To speed up the drying of the solution, you can add 0.4% to it citric acid. In this case, 4 molds will be enough to produce any amount of material.

Artificial marble made from polished gypsum also has another name – oselkovy. This is a mass colored with the addition of glue. After drying, it is ground and polished to a mirror finish. This technology is used to make facing material marbled, malachite and other stones. The structures are light and durable.

Artificial marble slabs can be obtained using one more method. To do this, acrylic or polyester resin and marble chips are mixed in a ratio of 4:1. Binders can be:

building gypsum;
cement mortar;
solution of lime and cement.

The fillers in this solution are colored sand, pebbles and colored quartz. The finished products will not resemble natural marble; it will be a somewhat new facing material. The use of mineral coloring pigments allows you to obtain more natural veins in the solution layer.

Conclusion on the topic

Since ancient times, our ancestors used only natural wood, stone and similar materials. Natural marble is still used today. It is beautiful, durable, and has a long service life. Its disadvantages are high cost, some difficulties in delivery to the construction site, special requirements for installation. Therefore, it is often replaced with artificial stone from gypsum mortar with the addition of dyes, which can be made even at home. These slabs are quite durable and beautiful when polished. They are used not only for building cladding, but also for window sills, countertops, sinks, pilasters, bathrooms, stair railings, sinks and other elements. This material is also used for finishing ceilings, floors, fireplaces and stoves. The shortcomings in this material can be easily eliminated with your own hands.

The use of natural marble in decorative works quite popular, but not everyone can afford such pleasure. A worthy alternative natural stone can become artificial marble, especially since making it with your own hands is accessible to any self-taught craftsman.

From this spectacular and inexpensive finishing material You can get a wide variety of household items: sinks and sinks, window sills and countertops, bathtubs and steps and much, much more.

Properties of artificial marble

Artificial marble is alloy of acrylic resins and various mineral fillers. The main ingredient of this alloy is polyester resin– characterized by high strength and good wear resistance.

Fillers added to artificial marble - multi-colored mineral chips and pigment dyes - allow you to create exactly the same stains on the man-made material as on natural stone. And the hardeners present in the alloy give this patterned beauty durability.

When used more than simple technologies in the production of artificial marble, fillers can be cement-concrete mixtures, fine quartz crushed stone, pebbles, tinted sand.

Artificial marble is an excellent dielectric, it is not flammable, so it can be used without restrictions for any decorative work. The homogeneous structure does not allow it to delaminate.

Artificial marble is known for its anti-corrosion, resistance to chemical solvents and alkaline environments. This allows it to be classified as a hygienic material from which kitchen and bathroom utensils can be safely made.

Do-it-yourself artificial marble production technologies

Technologies self-made artificial marble are quite simple. Anyone can master this simple task, the main thing is to prepare the appropriate mold for casting.

Production of artificial marble with concrete filler

This method is the most simple and accessible. It is distinguished by elementary manufacturing technology and low cost.

1. Inner surface Coat the matrices (forms) with gelcoat. It should be noted that types of gelcoat differ in the environment of use and color. In this case, a moisture-resistant gelcoat is suitable.
Wait until it dries completely and only then fill the form with filler - gypsum or concrete mortar. Add clay or slaked lime as a plasticizer.
Now we begin to prepare the filler for the main layer of the product. You will need to thoroughly mix cement and sand in a 1:2 ratio. Then add pebbles or crushed stone as a filler along with a plasticizer. Again you need to mix thoroughly (best in a mixer) until a homogeneous consistency is formed.
Finally, pigment dye should be added unevenly into different sectors of the form - this creates a pattern characteristic of marble with specks and veins.
The matrix, set strictly horizontally, should be filled with small doses of liquid artificial marble. It should fill all the voids of the form. If there is excess solution, it should be removed with a spatula. The filling must be covered with plastic wrap.
Now you need to let the solution dry. In natural conditions, this may take, depending on the thickness of the artificial marble, a day or even more. The temperature should be positive.
The dried slab, removed from the mold, should be treated with a grinding machine and a transparent polish.

Production of artificial marble based on polyester resins

This technology will require large material costs, but the result will be distinguished by an excellent appearance of the external surface. The resulting product will be light and durable, resistant to chemical and physical influences.

The solution for artificial marble can be prepared in two ways:

used to produce polymer concrete polyester resin (20%) and bulk filler (80%) is added to it; any mineral or sand crushed into crumbs is most often used as a filler;
polyester resin can be replace with a mixture of AST-T and butacryl in a ratio of 50 x 50 and add 50% quartz sand or crushed stone to it. Acrylic-based pigment dyes are used to add color to marble.

Manufacturing process steps:

The solution that fills the form is leveled with a spatula. Sometimes a chipboard board is used as an additional filler: it should be cut 50 mm smaller than the contour of the matrix and pressed into the mass. The excess that appears after immersing the board must be leveled internal parties castings
After drying, the hardened product is removed from the mold.
The finished product is sanded, drilled or subjected to other machining methods.

Making artificial marble from gypsum

Making marble on a gypsum basis with your own hands is quite simple. This does not require any special material costs.

Pour dry plaster into a container with water, then add wood glue and resin dissolved in a hot turpentine bath. All ingredients must be mixed thoroughly. After this, acrylic or pigment dyes are dipped into the mixture to create veins and streaks.

If you need to get milky artificial marble, then you should add to the solution: 200 grams of white gumax, 1 kilogram of industrial alcohol and 50 grams of dry gypsum. If the final product must have a coffee or brown, orange humilax is dropped into the mixture. Black marble is made using aniline dye.

Stages of the production process:

The liquid mixture should be poured into polyurethane or plastic mold. To get rid of excess water and achieve quick setting of the solution, it must be sprinkled with dry plaster.
Since plaster dries quickly, it finished product removed from the mold after 8-10 hours.
To make the outer layer of marble waterproof, it would not hurt to treat it with potassium silicate. To do this, the ingot is thickly coated on both sides with a brush or completely immersed in the bath.
The dried surface is polished either with soft felt or a similar abrasive agent while adding polish of the required shade. The treatment continues until an almost mirror-like surface is achieved.

Video: how to make marble with your own hands?

Marble for interior decoration and external walls buildings began to be used in ancient times. But this is not for everyone available material. The price of natural marble starts from 20 thousand rubles per square meter. A more economical replacement is artificial marble - made from concrete and other materials. Artificial stone is 4 times cheaper than natural stone if purchased in stores. But with certain skills you can make it yourself.

Characteristics of artificial stone

Not only marble made from concrete is called artificial stone, but also ceramic granite. The production technology of these materials is almost identical. But they are used in different ways.

Ceramic granite is considered harder and more resistant to mechanical damage, so it is more often used than marble for coverings in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic: floors in shopping centers, supermarkets, metro, transport centers. In residential premises, porcelain tiles are used to cover the walls and floors of hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Marble is less durable, but thanks to the dyes it has a beautiful pattern. Its scope of application is tabletops and bar counters, railings and staircases, decorative elements, plumbing components, window sills and artificial columns.

Custom concrete marble can come in almost any shape, color and pattern. These parameters depend solely on the imagination and solvency of the buyer.

Natural marble is in many ways inferior to its artificial counterpart. Table top made of natural material will weigh 3-4 times more than a synthetic one similar in shape and size.

The color palette of natural stone is limited, while artificial marble can be painted in any shade and can even be made to glow.

Manufacturing techniques

IN industrial scale Several marble production technologies are used. The composition of the mixtures depends on the chosen method. The most popular are casting and gypsum methods and the production of marble from concrete. Technologies for the production of artificial marble in both cases have much in common.

Casting method

Marble using the casting method is made from quartz sand or waste from the production of natural stone - marble chips. Polyester resins give the mixture integrity, and with the help of pigment the product can be given any shade. Cast marble has the following characteristics:

In addition to the main components of the mixture, a number of tools, preparations and special equipment are used in the production of cast marble. These include:

molds for filling;
anti-adhesive composition for mold processing;
vibrating table;
equipment for polishing finished marble structures;
gelcoat

Anti-adhesive mixtures are used to treat the molds after removing the hardened stone.

The composition of such preparations includes paraffin or silicone dissolved in kerosene, white spirit or gasoline.

It is necessary to choose the composition based on the desired appearance stone

To obtain a matte surface, a silicone mixture is suitable, while a wax anti-adhesive composition gives the final product a gloss, the surface becomes a little greasy.

The procedure for making cast marble is as follows:

Gelcoat is a polymer resin that is given a desired shade using dyes. He performs several functions: protects the surface from damage, “closes” the pores of the product and colors it. The gelcoat is applied with a brush or spray in several layers. After drying finishing coating(for gelcoat this is approximately 2-3 hours) the product is ready for use.

Gypsum marble

An alternative to natural chipped stone is gypsum marble. Production using this recipe is much cheaper. Base mixture contains the following components:

First, plaster, glue and water are mixed, then resin is added, and everything is mixed using a mixer. Then are added components for coloring:

black color is produced by aniline dye;
a coffee shade can be obtained by using orange humilax (200 g) and 1 liter of technical alcohol per 50 kg of gypsum;
For snow-white marble, white humilax is used.

The mixture is poured into a mold and dried for 10 hours at room temperature. After complete hardening, the artificial “gypsum” marble is removed, treated with potassium silicate, dried and polished with felt.

Gypsum marble is the lightest type of artificial stone, but also one of the most fragile. On its basis, decorative elements are usually made that are not subject to significant loads.

Concrete based

To manufacture a single product, it is not necessary to contact third-party manufacturers. If there are a number of readily available ingredients, anyone can create an artificial stone. You can make marble from concrete with your own hands. In addition to cement, marble contains sand, plasticizer and water. This greatly reduces the cost of artificial stone compared to the casting method. There are also certain requirements for such simple components.

For the production of marble from concrete they use following materials and equipment:

Production begins with careful sifting of sand. This will help get rid of excess impurities. The first to mix the basic components is cement and sand. The ratio of these components in the composition may vary depending on the scope of application of the final product.

For parts that will be subject to a large amount of mechanical damage in the future - curbs, external cladding, paving slabs, - you need to mix cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3.
If you plan to make a countertop, ceiling or staircase element, or window sill from artificial marble, then the proportions should be 1:2.
For decorative elements cement and sand are mixed in a 1:1 ratio.

The mixture is then diluted with water. The volume of water is calculated based on the volume of the dry mixture: the recommended proportion is 1 part water to 2 parts of the mixture. First add about three-quarters of the water and mix. Then a plasticizer is added to the mixture at the rate of 1-2% by weight of cement and mixed.

For the best distribution of the plasticizer, the mixture is left for 10-15 minutes, and then the remaining water is poured in and mixed again.

The last component is dye. To achieve the desired shade, one or more pigments can be added. It is usually recommended to use pigment at a rate of 1% by weight of cement (rather than the entire mixture), but the effectiveness of dyes varies, so this ratio may not give desired result. The most popular dyes and their The recommended dosages are as follows:

titanium oxide gives the mixture white(or white streaks and streaks), recommended dosage is from 2 to 4%;
minium - red-orange pigment - 5%;
chromium oxide colors the composition in green, is added in a volume of 3−5% by weight of cement;
The recommended amount for ocher is 5%, as a result the marble is painted in shades from light yellow to brown.

Special pigments for concrete are also produced. When determining their dosage, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions.

After adding the dye, the composition should not be thoroughly mixed, since marble has an uneven color distribution.

The finished mixture is poured in parts into a form treated with anti-adhesive agents, paying attention special attention recesses. If the planned product has large sizes, part of the composition is poured into the mold, a mesh or wire is laid and only then the rest is added liquid foundation. Typically, tabletops and massive slabs, borders, and volumetric decorative elements require reinforcement. After pouring, the mold is covered with film and left until completely hardened.

Artificial marble hardens for a long time; this will take at least 7-12 days. The finished stone is removed from the mold, polished if necessary and coated with a final protective layer of resin (gelcoat).

Nuances of operation

With the right finishing artificial marble of any origin, products made from it will last for years. One of the ways to increase the durability of the stone is surface painting and coating with water-acrylic varnish.

This is especially true for stone used in exterior decoration, since water-acrylic varnish is not susceptible to sunlight.

As a result, the marble decorative element will not change its color and will not become covered with unpleasant yellow spots within 10−15 years.

When installing the product, avoid over-tightening fasteners. A marble slab installed skewed or with strong pressure on the corners may not withstand the load and burst. When facing rooms with high humidity It is necessary to monitor the condition of the plumbing, prevent leaks and stones from being dug.

Falling heavy objects with sharp corners can damage the marble. Do not cut food directly on the countertop; use cutting boards.

The surface should be cleaned using only liquid cleaning agents. Compositions with abrasives destroy protective coating artificial stone, cause micro-scratches in which food debris, dust and other contaminants accumulate. From hard brushes and metal mesh should be abandoned, giving preference to soft tissues.

Not everyone can afford surface finishing natural materials, due to the high price of products and work. The process involves not only laying marble on a specific surface, but also processing it, which is done with a specialized tool. Various quantities of polymer concrete fall into the subcategories of artificial marble.

Marble finishing in large quantities can be done with your own hands, by organized production at home. An obvious advantage is the production of artificial marble of the required shape and consistency, which is unique and cannot be found on the market. General composition accessories for making artificial marble at home does not change depending on the required shape of the product.

Properties of artificial marble

The main components of artificial marble are polyester resins, which are wear-resistant and durable. An alloy of mineral fillers, dyes, and various acrylic resins are used in production. The composition of artificial marble varies depending on the work and the type of product. More budget-friendly variations involve the use of crushed quartz crushed stone, pebbles, concrete-cement mixture, and tinted sand.

The homogeneous structure is an obvious advantage; the material does not delaminate and is not flammable. Artificial marble does not conduct electricity, does not burn, and is used in various fields. Products in the form of accessories for kitchen and bathroom utensils may have excellent anti-corrosion properties and resistance to cleaning chemicals.

There are several varieties of material, it is divided into casting, stone, liquid composition. There are many varieties that are used in production and industry. The main purpose of the material is finishing facades and offices, making countertops, fountains, and kitchen utensils.

The base of the material consists of a neutral mineral, quartz chips, crushed marble and others, combined with polyester resin. The added mineral allows you to turn liquid marble into a kind of granite, jasper or malachite stone. To make the composition, you will need to prepare the ingredients and preliminary solutions:

Mixed polyester type resin, one to four ratio with mineral. This type The solution belongs to polymer concrete and is necessary for subsequent use in the manufacture of artificial marble.
Butacrylic solution is made by mixing AST-T and butacryl in proportions of 1 to 1. Half the volume of crushed crushed stone is added to the resulting mixture.

Do-it-yourself cast marble is made using the following auxiliary substances: river sand, gelcoat, pigment and plasticizer. Compliance with the production stages will allow you to produce a high-quality product:

The mold for the product is coated with gelcoat.
The prepared solution is laid out in a mold, the excess is removed.
The mold is covered with an airtight film and left for 12 hours in a dry place.
The finished stone is removed from its shape and dried in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air.

The hardened stone can be further polished to achieve shine. The manufacturing process does not take a lot of effort and time, but the components are not always freely available, and the price of the final product is high. Based on this, it is worth considering similar methods for making artificial marble from other components.

The preparation of the composition from gypsum is made by mixing a mixture of water and glue, which is applied to the product and sanded to a shine. Gypsum marble is tinted to achieve the desired result; the basic appearance is similar to lapis lazuli, malachite and other types of materials. Production does not require expensive materials; it is necessary to properly prepare the solution, following several steps:

Wood glue with dry plaster is mixed with water.
Next you need to add the melted resin.
After uniform stirring, the pigment is added.
Mixing occurs until streaks and natural inclusions appear.
The solution is poured into the prepared mold, and excess mixture is removed using dry gypsum.
Hardening occurs within 8-12 hours, depending on temperature environment and humidity.
Waterproof properties are imparted by potassium silicate, which is applied on top of the product.
Polishing is done using specialized abrasives; if you don’t have them, you can use soft felt.

It is important to know that for the finished product with a natural color, a special mixture is used. Artificial marble made from gypsum turns out more natural if you mix 200 grams of gumilax, a liter of alcohol, and 50 grams of gypsum.

Aniline dye will give the product a black tint, and orange gumilax will look more light color. Do-it-yourself touchstone marble is the most accessible due to the low cost of the ingredients. The design is light and durable, and is successfully used in residential premises.

Artificial marble with concrete filler

Method available for production, not complex manufacturing from available means, low costs make concrete filler one of the popular marbles to use. It is quite simple to produce artificial marble; the production technology is similar to the casting method, but there are some nuances:

The mold is coated from the inside with a moisture-resistant gelcoat and completely dries.
A concrete mixture is prepared using clay or slaked lime.
The filler is prepared from a 2 to 1 mixture river sand and cement, a small amount of pebbles. The composition is filled with water, approximately 80% of the container volume, pigment for natural color is added at a ratio of 1 percent of the total mass of the solution. Mixing takes place with a mixer, the duration of the operation is from 30 seconds to a minute.
The resulting solution is poured into molds, completely filling the empty spaces; excess is removed with a spatula or other available tool.
Drying occurs with a covered form for 24 hours, after which the material is processed grinder.

The finished product will allow you not to waste time on manufacturing, but will not be able to fully meet the necessary parameters.

The most affordable is ground artificial marble, which is durable and highly resistant to moisture. The liquid product is used for difficult-to-make forms; it can be cut with a knife and made into any product.

Manufacturing technology

The production of the finished product is not difficult and not expensive; you will need several available materials for making molds, grinding machine. Do-it-yourself artificial marble is obtained by following technological process, just follow a few simple steps. The production of artificial marble makes it possible to obtain a finished product of the desired type, give the structure uniqueness, and ensure the proper appearance.

Preparatory work

Before any work you will need necessary materials. To obtain artificial marble you will need:

Filler that is selected according to the budget. Ideally, marble chips are used; for a cheaper process, you should pay attention to crushed stone, quartz sand or a cement-sand mixture.
Depending on the recipe and the desired result, a polyester resin is selected, preferably with an alcohol composition, as saturated as possible.
Important parameters of high strength are achieved by using a hardener.
Prepared dyes give the product color.

The materials necessary for the production of artificial marble with your own hands can be purchased at specialized stores on construction markets. Only after everyone preparatory work it is possible to begin work on the production of a mixture of material.

Preparation of the solution

The solution is prepared in a special container. The prepared ingredients are mixed in accordance with the proportions and recipe; the main requirements for mixing are the absence of lumps and a homogeneous mass at the output. For small volumes, it is possible to use an electric drill with a special stirring attachment, similar to a butterfly. Large volumes are mixed with a construction mixer.

Preparing and filling out the form

Before making a mold, it is necessary to determine whether it is advisable to produce a collapsible mold, because there are designs that are made once. The main materials for making molds are gypsum, polyurethane, plastic and others. The strength of the form depends on the volume and mass of the solution. Flow production involves division into sectors, this method used when several products are made from a homogeneous composition.

The forms must be pre-polished and material applied to prevent adhesion. The gelcoat is sprayed onto the surface with a special cup device, then allowed to settle until completely cured. After pouring the material, it is necessary to remove air bubbles. This procedure is performed manually by piercing the mass over the entire area; for a faster, automated process you will need a vibrating table.

Hardening depends on the volume of the product and the ambient temperature. Filling is done in small layers to completely fill the form. The appearance of cracks on the surface of artificial marble is avoided by sealing with polyethylene or other available material.

Processing of the finished slab and subsequent care

The finished slab is processed with a grinding machine until shiny. Final polishing is done with felt; for a more pronounced shine, a polish is used, the color of which depends on the product.

Subsequent care requires special care; aggressive detergents can scratch the surface and remove shine. Contaminants are removed soft cloth or a special sponge. To maintain shine, the solution is diluted detergent with water. The shine is maintained by rubbing with a towel after washing.

Usage

The manufacturing process differs depending on the materials and purpose of the structure. Products made from artificial marble are widely used in the decoration of residential premises and administrative buildings. Artificial marble tiles are used for the manufacture of stairs, building facades, and other areas.

Cheap material compared to natural stones, is used everywhere due to waste-free production and ease of maintenance. Marble is being replaced by artificial stone and is used in various fields of construction; some forms and types are used by certain types of industry. It is possible to make artificial granite with your own hands using the casting method as an example, but the process will require a lot of effort as a consequence of the changed technological process.