Man-made Stone Is A New Type of Inorganic Polymer Composite Material Bonded with Polymer, Cement, Or A Mixture of Both.

Main Types

• Resin-based man-made stone: It is made by mixing unsaturated polyester resin as the binder with inorganic fillers such as natural marble gravel and quartz sand in a certain proportion, and then adding additives like catalysts, curing agents, and pigments. It boasts a glossy finish, bright and diverse colors, and excellent processability. It can cure at room temperature, making it the most widely used type of man-made stone at present.

• Composite man-made stone: Its binder consists of both inorganic and organic polymer materials. Generally, a cement mortar blank is first made with cement, stone powder, etc., and then the blank is immersed in organic monomers for polymerization. This type of man-made stone is relatively low-cost, but its polyester surface is prone to peeling or cracking when affected by temperature differences.

• Cement-based man-made stone: It is produced by mixing various cements as binders with sand and natural gravel as coarse and fine aggregates, followed by batching, mixing, pressure curing, grinding, and polishing. It features easy access to raw materials and low price, but has poor decorative properties. Terrazzo and various colored floor tiles fall into this category.

• Sintered man-made stone: Its production process is similar to ceramic technology. Powder materials such as feldspar, quartz, and diabase, hematite powder, and a certain amount of kaolin are mixed together. The blank is prepared by the slurry mixing method, formed by the semi-dry pressing method, and then fired in a kiln at a high temperature of around 1000℃. It has good decorative properties and stable performance, but consumes high energy and has a high cost.

Advantages

• Attractive and durable: It has bright colors, uniform textures, and small color differences, which can simulate the appearance of natural marble or granite without fading. Meanwhile, it inherits the advantages of natural stone such as hardness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance.

• Highly malleable: It can be made into various shapes and colors according to design requirements, and allows seamless splicing. It is suitable for making special shapes like arcs and rounded corners, meeting the needs of different decoration styles.

• Environmentally friendly and energy-efficient: It can utilize waste generated during natural stone mining as the main raw material, realizing comprehensive resource utilization. The production process does not require high-temperature polymerization, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions.

• Strong stain resistance: Its dense and non-porous surface prevents oil stains and water stains from penetrating easily. Daily maintenance only requires wiping with a sponge and neutral detergent to keep it clean.

Disadvantages

• Limited performance in some aspects: Compared with natural stone, some man-made stones have lower hardness and are prone to scratches, especially resin-based man-made stone. In addition, the high-temperature resistance of some man-made stones needs to be improved, and they may discolor or crack when exposed to high temperatures.

• Quality variations: The quality of man-made stone products on the market varies greatly. Some inferior man-made stones may use unqualified raw materials, leading to excessive harmful substances and endangering human health.

Related News

• On December 12, 2025, a Douyin user shared a new type of man-made stone product. Adopting a mortise and tenon structure, it can be installed like wooden flooring to achieve tight-seam paving. With rich textures and crystal-like luster, it is also added with natural red jade, combining aesthetics and practicality.

• On December 15, 2025, news emerged that the first case of silicosis in a man-made stone countertop manufacturer was confirmed in Massachusetts, USA, highlighting the public health crisis caused by crystalline silica exposure during man-made stone production. Earlier, Australia had banned the use of man-made stone in 2024 due to health hazards.