The objects made of sanitary ware, mankind uses only the second century. Prior to this, toilets, sinks and bathtubs were made only of metal. And even earlier, the water closet was not yet invented, although devices for removing sewage during excavations were found in Ancient China and Ancient Otrar (Kazakhstan), and Leonardo da Vinci invented a toilet seat with a discharge into the sewers for his king.
Why is plumbing made of faience?
It is difficult to disagree with the fact that sanitary ware is the most convenient material for use in such a humid place as a bathroom. Household ceramics covered with a layer of special glaze meet the basic necessary qualities:
- products are very durable;
- easy to clean from dirt and water deposits;
- have a beautiful aesthetic appearance;
- the variety of designs, shapes and colors does not cease to amaze and delight;
- perfectly in harmony with any finishing materials;
- resistant to moisture and odors;
- have a glossy, almost mirror surface.
Technological features of production
Sanitary ware material is obtained by mixing varieties of white clay,
quartz sand, kaolin and firing in a special high-temperature mode. At its core, sanitary ware is a dense, non-porous ceramic covered with a layer of glaze. The more homogeneous the components and the mixture itself, the better the texture of the finished product.
First, the finished mixture is poured into molds, where excess moisture is lost. Then the extracted semi-finished products are dried at an initial temperature of about 600 degrees. If you skip this step, inevitably cracking products during hot main firing. Dried preforms are coated with a liquid mixture containing specific components, including powder glass and other additives. It is at the glazing stage that all faience acquires a given color: pink or white, black or blue, green or lilac. It all depends on substances mixed with liquid glaze, which protects the ceramic shard from moisture and odor absorption.
Final firing is carried out in special furnaces at a temperature exceeding 1100 degrees. Gradually cooling down directly in closed stoves, plumbing acquires the appearance and qualities for which it is so appreciated in the modern market.
High-quality sanitary ware is dried and calcined in accordance with all stages of the product technological chain. The absence of cracks, chips and areas without glaze characterizes the plumbing of a self-respecting company.
Where do kings go on foot?
It is hard to believe that a few centuries ago, humanity did not have special latrines in their homes. It is enough to recall that the "ancestor" of the toilet was an ordinary night pot, which lived in the bedroom under the bed.
The very first toilet seat with a drain tank was invented for Queen Elizabeth in 1596.
Early devices for performing the procedure of liberating the body from unnecessary consisted of two parts: a bowl and a pipe - a pallet. As a result of the long process of “evolution” of this subject in 1883, the brilliant idea came to the Englishman Thomas Twyford to create an integral model. She was called the "toilet", which means "unity." The device was made of earthenware and equipped with a wooden seat.
Ode to modern plumbing
The production of sanitary ware in modern society is at such a level that, along with the usual ones, the toilet models of completely fantastic designs are entering the market:
- wall or floor options;
- suspended, attached or freestanding structures;
- with turkish bowls;
- with a storage tank hidden in the wall;
- with a drain directly from the water supply;
- with programmed odor removal ;
- coated with antibacterial glazes, which include silver;
- with the application of water-repellent glaze;
- heated seat;
- with electronic remote control;
- with rinse aid and automatic rinse;
- with a sound device simulating the murmur of water (for especially economical and shy persons);
- with installed anti-splash system.
There is no limit to human ingenuity and flights of fantasy! Modern sanitary ware is not just functional and necessary household items in every home or office. These are models that simplify and make life easier in the high-speed age of technology.