What are vitrified tiles ?
Vitrified tiles are ceramic tiles with high percentage of vitrification and less amount of water absorption. Vitrification is nothing but a development of glass phase inside the tile during firing process. This is mainly due to melting of some constituent in the body.

Difference between vitrified tiles and glazed tiles
In ceramic tiles percentage of viritification is less compared to vitrified tiles and capacity of water absorption is more ( 4% to 6% ) due to higher porosity. To avoid this water absorption, top surface of glazed tiles is given a glossy coat. This glossy coat is also called glaze. Vitrified tile is a homogeneous body, it doesn't have a separate coat of gloss. Also water absorption is as less as 0.5% in case of vitrified tiles.

Manufacturing process
Clay, quartz, feldspar and sand mixed in a mixer. Imported pigments ceramic colorants and water is added in above mixture in desired proportion ( Depending upon the colour and design of the tile ). This mixture is dried and is send to the hydraulic press where it is pressed to the required size.

Pressed tiles go to a kiln for firing process. In case of marble finish tiles, tiles are screen printed before the firing process. Kiln is a long belt where tiles are fired at different temperatures ranging from 500 degrees centigrade to 1400 degree centigrade.

After firing, baked tiles are sent for chamfering of edges and polishing. Sizes and thickness variations are minimized during this process. Tiles are polished using a 24 head diamond head ( not in case of matt tiles ). During polishing top layer of the tile is sliced which makes way to microspores on the surface. Internationally, these pores are filled but in India this particular technology is still not introduced.

Hardness
Hardness is the resistance of a material to an indentation by any other material, Verified tiles have hardness of 7 to 8 MOH.
( Hardness of a material is checked on Moh's hardness scale developed by a geologist called ' Moh ' . This scale has 10 minerals with respective hardness numbers from 1 to 10. Hardness of a material can be checked by scratching a tile using pencils with tips of these materials. Harder material can develop scratches on each other. ) 

Strength 
It is a measure of the load a material can bear without formation of a crack or permanent deformation. Vitrified tiles have strength greater than 300Kg/square cm.

Zero water absorption property
Since vitrified tiles have high percentage of vitrification, they are less porous and hence they have less percentage of water absorption. Water absorption test is conducted by soaking a tile in the water. The percentage increase of mass of tile is the percentage of water absorption. In case of vitrified tiles water absorption is less than 0.5%.

Abrasion resistance
Since vetrified tiles have Moh's hardness value of 7 to 8, it is very difficult to abrade it in normal conditions. Although any harder material such as topaz or diamond can abrade it.

Acid resistance
Vitrified tiles have got resistance against wide range of chemicals including acids and alkalies except hydrofluoric acid.

Stain resistance
Since vitrified tiles are non porous they have a very good resistance against stains. Stains may be formed on the surface due to micro pores, but they can be removed using acids or alkalies unless stains are of ink or marker which are hard top remove.

Functions
In practice, vitrified tiles are mostly used in commercial complexes and offices. In case of residential complexes vitrified tiles are used at the entrances and passageways. In case of commercial complexes, vitrified tiles are used for the high traffic areas such as lobbies,  passageways etc. Vitrified tiles can also be used as an industrial flooring as they are acid resistant.

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• Residential
  Bathrooms, kitchen, living room, exterior areas, Staircases, window skills. 

• Commercial
  Showrooms, reception hall, hotels, airports, shopping malls, restaurants, offices.

• Industrial
  Heavy duty Industrial floor, chemical industries.

• Decorative
  External cladding, inlays, borders.

Installation
Since vitrified tiles are highly non porous, it is advisable to use cementitious adhesives or organic dispersion adhesives instead of cement or mixture of sand and cement. These adhesives are 3 to 4 times stronger than cement and have capacity to hold the tile for a longer time.

Complementing the tile adhesives, there are three categories of grouts to fill the gaps between the joints. Grouts can be cement based, polymer based or epoxyide resin based. Cement based grouts are water resistant and can be used in both interior and exterior installation, polymer based grouts have a low water resistance and they can be used only in dry interiors. Epoxyide resin based grouts have a low water resistance and they can be used only in dry interiors. Epoxyide resin based grouts are completely water impervious and they also can be used for chemical resistivity.

Present Market scenario
Vitrified tiles have their market situated mainly in big cities. In 1996-97 vitrified tiles had an estimated market of 50 crores in India. Today, the estimated market size ( in value ) for vitrified tiles is about 100 - 130 crores. In Mumbai alone, vitrified tiles generate monthly sales of about 2 crores.

Currently there are three players in vitrified tiles market namely Bell Granito, Naveen Diamontile and Restile ceramics ltd. with the market share of 40%, 50%, and 10% respectively.