MCM (Modified Clay Materials) products are made from a patented composite material created from natural clay, free from any toxic or chemically hazardous additives. The raw materials used to manufacture MCM tiles include standard red, yellow, and white clays, silt, gravel, silica, ash, cement production waste, and several other types of inorganic substances. After collecting all components and crushing them into pure micro-powder, the surfaces of the micro-particles are modified with surfactants. Each particle is coated with active substances in a multilayer mesh structure and granulated into the final mass at low temperatures.
This modified clay material, combined with certain types of polymer compounds, is referred to as “hybrids of organic and inorganic eco-ecological materials”—Econic materials.
Conventional plastic and resin materials are prone to aging and fading under ultraviolet radiation, whereas eco-ecological hybrid materials exhibit long-term structural stability and durability. Products made from modified clay also retain the splendid properties of natural clay and minerals: breathability (the “breathing” effect of clay bricks), moisture resistance, fire resistance, and structural stability.
MCM technology tiles are produced through low-temperature forming and pressing, while ceramic tiles are made by firing at temperatures of 1200°C or higher.
Unlike ceramics, MCM tiles are characterized by their flexibility. They can bend up to an angle of 60° (although complete folding is not possible). Once installed on facade walls or other base surfaces, they withstand impacts with a strength 100 times greater than that of ceramic tiles. However, MCM tiles can be easily scratched by sharp solid objects, unlike ceramic tiles. Cleaning the surface of MCM tiles is simple with plain water, and the use of various chemically active solvents (such as acetone or benzene) or acids is not recommended.
MCM tiles are diffusely open materials, allowing for the transmission of air and excess moisture. Their moisture absorption coefficient ranges from 8% to 14%, similar to that of natural clay, ensuring comfortable conditions within the interior living spaces when used for facade cladding, as it facilitates the expulsion of excess humidity from the building’s interior to the exterior. Furthermore, MCM tiles protect even the structural elements of the building from excess moisture.
High-quality MCM tiles feature a static charge on the surfaces of their small particles, resulting in minimal adhesion of dust particles. Any minute debris that may settle is easily washed away by raindrops.
In the construction sector, MCM is primarily used for cladding building facades, pathways in recreational areas, channels, interior walls and ceilings of buildings, bathrooms, balconies, elevator lobbies, as well as for the surfaces of ships and furniture.
MCM products are eco-friendly and certified according to fire safety, ultraviolet radiation resistance, and frost resistance standards in Europe, the United States, and Asian countries.