When choosing acid-resistant tiles, you need to consider factors such as corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, use environment and construction requirements. The following is a specific selection guide, which is explained in detail step by step:
Clearly define the usage scenario
Industrial environment: areas that need to be exposed to strong acids (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, etc.) such as chemical workshops, electroplating plants, and pharmaceutical plants.
Laboratories/medical sites: floors or countertops that may be exposed to acidic reagents or disinfectants.
Food processing plants: need to be resistant to acidic cleaning agents (such as acetic acid) and meet hygiene standards.
Outdoor facilities: areas with frequent acid rain or humid acidic environments such as sewage tanks.
Acid resistance: The acid resistance rate is required to be ≥99% (national standard GB/T 8488-2020), and a third-party test report is required.
Test method: Soak the tile in 20% sulfuric acid/hydrochloric acid (temperature 20℃) for 30 days and observe the quality loss.
Water absorption rate: The water absorption rate of high-quality acid-resistant bricks should be <0.5% (the lower the water absorption rate, the stronger the anti-permeability). High water absorption tiles are easily penetrated by acid and cause structural damage.
Mechanical strength: The compressive strength of floor tiles must be ≥100MPa, and the flexural strength must be ≥35MPa (higher in heavy equipment areas). Wall tiles can be slightly lower, but impact resistance must be guaranteed.
Thermal stability: No cracking after hot and cold cycles (such as repeated testing from 100℃ to room temperature), suitable for high temperature acid mist environment.
Anti-slip property: The surface of the floor tile must be anti-slip treated (friction coefficient ≥0.6), and a concave-convex pattern or matte surface can be selected.
Material and type selection
Ceramic acid-resistant bricks: low cost (about 50-100 yuan/㎡), suitable for lightly corrosive environments (such as olefinic acid solutions). Disadvantages: general mechanical strength, easy to powderize after long-term contact with concentrated acid.
Glazed acid-resistant bricks: the surface glaze layer enhances corrosion resistance, suitable for places that need to be easy to clean, such as laboratory countertops. Pay attention to the integrity of the glaze (no cracks or pores).
Granite-based acid-resistant bricks: natural stone processing, acid-resistant and high compressive strength (up to 200MPa), suitable for heavy-load areas. The price is relatively high (200-400 yuan/㎡), and custom cutting is required.
Borosilicate glass bricks: resistant to strong corrosive media such as hydrofluoric acid, but brittle, mostly used in special laboratories.
Wall tiles: 100×200mm, 150×150mm (thickness 10-15mm). Large-sized tiles (600×600mm) have fewer joints, but the flatness of the base layer must be ensured.
Joint treatment: Use special acid-resistant glue (such as potassium water glass glue) to fill the joints, with a thickness of ≤3mm. Avoid ordinary cement, as it is easily corroded by acid and causes it to fall off.
Paving the base layer: The concrete base surface needs to be made into an anti-corrosion isolation layer (such as epoxy resin coating) to prevent acid from penetrating into the base layer.
Avoid pit tips: Be wary of low-priced and low-quality bricks (insufficient acid resistance and high porosity), which can be tested by a simple test. Drop concentrated acid to observe whether the surface bubbles (if the reaction is violent, it is unqualified).
Construction and maintenance suggestions
Construction points: Brick joints need to be filled with mortar to avoid voids. Slope design (1%-2%) facilitates the acid to drain to the floor drain.
Maintenance: Rinse regularly with neutral detergent to avoid long-term retention of acid. If the brick surface is found to be peeling or cracked, it needs to be repaired in time to prevent corrosion from spreading.
Cost optimization strategy
Graded use: Use high-quality bricks (such as granite base) in high-concentration acid areas and ordinary ceramic bricks in low-concentration areas.
Life calculation: High-quality bricks can last for more than 20 years, while low-quality bricks may need to be replaced within 5 years, and the comprehensive cost is higher.
Through the above steps, combined with actual environmental test samples (such as taking bricks from 3-5 suppliers and soaking them in on-site acid for 1 week), you can accurately select cost-effective acid-resistant tiles.
