The difference between Aztec Marble and Cultured Marble
Cultured Marble is manufactured with a Gelcoat surface with a mixture of a Polyester Resign and Calcium Carbonate filler blended with various pigments as the matrix (or base). Typically 75% of Cultured Marble is Calcium Carbonate.
Aztec Marble differs for Cultured Marble in a few areas, but it is mainly in the filler. Aztec Marble utilizes an engineered filler, making Aztec Marble an engineered composite.
What is the difference between Aztec Marble's engineered filler and Calcium Carbonate?
To answer this question we need to discuss thermal shock. Thermal shock in cultured marble happens when hot water is run in the sink and then cold water is introduced to the surface. This caused the material to expand and contract very rapidly. When heated and cooled, Calcium Carbonate will not expand and contract at the same rate as the polyester resin. This can cause a separation of the two materials (or a crack) which is thermal shock.
Aztec Marble's engineered filler uses a blend of calcium carbonate and microscopic polymer spheres. The addition of these polymer spheres give two benefits.
1. The polymer spheres will expand and contract at a rate much closer to the polyester resin than calcium carbonate.
2. The resin and the spheres are actually able to make more of a chemical bond as opposed to a mechanical bond that happens between the resin and calcium carbonate.
The fact that Aztec Marble is an engineered composite allows it to exceed the thermal shock standard for cultured marble by four times.
Cultured Marble products typically have a one year warranty. Because of Aztec's superior testing we offer a 5 year product warranty against thermal shock and de-lamination.