How to judge the quality of Pu stone
To judge the quality of PU stone (polyurethane artificial stone), we can start from the following aspects:
In terms of appearance
Texture and color
Texture: The texture of high-quality PU stone is clear, natural, and coherent, which can highly restore the texture characteristics of natural stone. If the texture is blurry, disorganized, or too regular to appear fake, there may be quality issues.
Color: Uniform color with no obvious color difference. The color should be bright and long-lasting, and not easily fade. Observing in front of the light, the color transition is natural, and there is no phenomenon of local colors being too dark or too light.
Surface smoothness: Touching the surface of PU stone by hand, high-quality products have a smooth feel without obvious defects such as unevenness, cracks, holes, etc. Place it on a flat surface and observe if it can be placed smoothly. If there is any shaking, it indicates poor surface flatness.
In terms of physical performance
Weight and density: Although PU stone itself is light in weight, if it is too light, it may mean that the internal structure is loose and the density is too low, affecting its strength and durability; And if the weight is too heavy, it may be due to the addition of too much inferior filler, which is also not a high-quality product. You can refer to the density range indicated in the product manual to roughly determine whether it meets the standard.
Hardness and Wear Resistance: Use an object with moderate hardness (such as a key) to lightly scratch an inconspicuous area. If there are obvious and deep scratches left, it indicates that the hardness is not enough and the wear resistance is poor. In the future, surface wear may occur, which affects the appearance. However, during testing, the force should be moderate to avoid irreparable damage to the product.
Impact resistance: The initial assessment of impact resistance can be made through a simple tapping test. Use a rubber hammer or similar tool to strike the edges and corners of the PU stone with appropriate force, and listen for a crisp sound. If the sound is dull, there may be hidden damage or loose structure inside. At the same time, observe whether there are cracks or damages after tapping. If such situations occur, the impact resistance is poor.
In terms of chemical properties
Water resistance: Soak a small portion of PU stone sample in water for a period of time (such as 24 hours) and then remove it to observe whether there is deformation, swelling, discoloration, and other phenomena. If these problems occur, it indicates poor water resistance and easy damage when used in humid environments.
Corrosion resistance: Use diluted acid and alkali solutions (with low concentration to avoid danger), drop them onto the surface of PU stone, wait for a moment, and then rinse with clean water. Observe whether there are corrosion marks, discoloration, and other conditions on the surface. If there are, it indicates that its corrosion resistance is not strong and it is not suitable for environments with chemical corrosion risks.
Odor and Environmental Protection
Odor: After opening the packaging, get close and smell the PU stone for any pungent or strong odor. If there is a strong chemical odor, it is likely that a large amount of inferior chemical raw materials were used in the production process, which not only affects the user experience but may also be harmful to human health.
Environmental certification: Check if the product has relevant environmental certification marks, such as green and environmentally friendly building materials certification issued by national authoritative institutions. These certifications indicate that the product complies with national standards in terms of harmful substance limits, making it more reassuring to use.