Mohs Hardness Scale Explained: What It Means for Tile Durability
Appearance is only part of the story when you’re selecting tiles for your home. A tile may be beautifully glazed, but how will its surface stand up to the rigors of daily use, hot foot traffic, cleaning and occasional abrasions?
That’s where the Mohs Hardness Scale comes into play.
The Mohs Scale is a standard scale which helps us to compare how much one mineral can scratch another. When it comes to tiles and building materials, this knowledge can allow a homeowner, an architect, or a designer to make that much more informed decisions in choosing surfaces for floors, for walls, and for any space that is high in usage.
What Is the Mohs Hardness Scale?
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness was created by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in the year of 1812. It assigns a number from 1 to 10 to a mineral, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest and is based on ability of minerals to scratch each other.
Starting with ultra-soft talc at 1, the scale ends at 10 with diamond, the hardest mineral found in nature.
The basic scale is:
|
Mohs Rating |
Mineral |
Relative Hardness |
|
1 |
Talc |
Very soft |
|
2 |
Gypsum |
Soft |
|
3 |
Calcite |
Relatively soft |
|
4 |
Fluorite |
Moderate |
|
5 |
Apatite |
Medium |
|
6 |
Orthoclase |
Hard |
|
7 |
Quartz |
Very hard |
|
8 |
Topaz |
Extremely hard |
|
9 |
Corundum |
Very hard |
|
10 |
Diamond |
Highest on the scale |
A key point: the Mohs Scale is not a scale. A mineral with a rating of 10 is not just twice as hard as one with the rating of 5. The steps between higher values can be a lot larger than the steps suggest.
Why Does Mohs Hardness Matter for Tiles?
Tiles are subjected to daily wear because of friction. Shoes bring dust and small debris inside, furniture is dragged over floors, and the surface can be impacted a number of times by routine cleaning.
Tile hardness and scratch resistance are therefore key factors, especially for flooring.
An increased hardness of the tile surface can generally provide a better resistance against scratching from softer materials than the tile. However, hardness is just one aspect of tile as a whole.
For instance, a floor tile may be stepped on far more in an entryway, living room or commercial building than a decorative wall tile. So, hardness should always be considered in the context of its intended use.
Mohs Hardness vs. Tile Durability: Are They the Same?
Not quite.
This is one of the key things to know when looking into how long tiles last.
Mohs hardness mainly refers to how hard it is to scratch a material. It doesn’t measure all the aspects of a tile’s potential.
A tile's overall performance can also depend on factors such as:
- Water absorption
- Breaking strength
- Surface finish
- Wear resistance
- Manufacturing quality
- Installation quality
- Intended application
- Maintenance and cleaning practices
So, for instance a tile with a higher Mohs score is not necessarily better for all uses.
Instead, view the Mohs hardness as a single useful aspect in the overall tile-performance picture.
How Is Mohs Hardness Tested?
The old Mohs test follows the this is a simple observation a harder material can scratch a softer material.
For instance, quartz has a Mohs hardness of 7 which means it can scratch all materials with a lower hardness. Diamond of 10 can scratch virtually all minerals under that scale.
In material testing, testing organizations and producers may employ different, more standardized testing protocols based on what characteristic is being measured. In case of tiles, you need to understand there is such a thing as mineralogical scratch-hardness testing and then there are standardized tests for other types of performance by ceramic tiles. The difference is critical to understanding that one figure cannot encapsulate the level of every aspect of the tile's durability.
What Mohs Hardness Means When Choosing Floor Tiles
For homeowners, the easiest way to use the concept is to think about where the tile will be installed and how much activity it will experience.
Low- Traffic Areas
There are lower chances of being trampled in bedrooms, private bathrooms, and foyers. In this market, design, finish and overall appropriateness is just as important as how well it resists scratching.
High-Traffic Areas
doorways, hallways, living rooms, kitchens and shops are all subject to more traffic and surface contact.
In the case of these areas, choose a tile with sufficient hardness of the surface, wear resistance and durability for the application.
Wall Applications
Mechanical stress is not usually imposed on wall tiles to the same extent as on floor tiles. Therefore, the performance specifications can be very different.
That’s why the question “Where will it be used?” Should always be the first in line when picking a tile!
Does a Higher Mohs Rating Mean a Better Tile?
Not really.
A high hardness value can imply good scratch resistance, but it does not define if a tile is suitable for a certain room.
Imagine you are choosing between two tiles. One could have great scratch resistance and the other could have a surface finish, texture or pattern that is more appropriate for the room you want to use it in. "The right choice really depends on the full set of performance requirements of the application."
So, buyers should not just focus on one number, but consider the technical attributes of the tile in their entirety.
Mohs Hardness and Everyday Tile Maintenance
Even the toughest tiles have a life expectancy.
Dust/sand and grit can serve as abrasives when they keep being walked over. Dust through a vacuum or sweeping regularly can mitigate this type of surface friction.
For everyday cleaning, use the appropriate cleaning products for the tile and don't use aggressive cleaning methods unless the manufacturer mentions that you can.
Proper care won't change the Mohs hardness of a tile but it may help protect the visual appearance and surface condition of the tile over time.
Final Thought
The Mohs Hardness Scale is a useful tool to help understand scratch resistance, but it should never be the only factor considered when assessing tile quality.
In selecting tiles, you should consider the overall: use, traffic, surface features, technical data, laying and maintenance.
A stunning tile defines the look of a room. The correct technical features guarantee that the surface will remain beautiful in daily use.
Choose with your eyes. Select with the specifications. Build for everyday living.