Stone Care’s Double Battlefront: Deadly “Invisible Killers” vs. Powerful “Behind-the-Scenes Heroes”

1.Invisible Killers of Stone Care: Spread of New Rust

There is a saying: “The more knowledge, the more reactionary.” Many people think this saying itself is reactionary, but in reality, it holds some truth to a certain degree.

Those truly “ignorant” who follow expert advice sincerely and use ready-made rust removers according to instructions generally can clean stone rust well without causing new rust. However, those with some knowledge know that rust (mainly Fe₂O₃·nH₂O) reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) producing ferric chloride (FeCl₃, yellow) or ferrous chloride (light green). They believe rinsing with water removes the rust, leaving the stone surface clean and shining.

In fact, water cannot completely remove the ferric or ferrous chloride dissolved in it, leading to widespread yellow or light green stains. Over time, iron in the stone reacts with acid to form ferrous ions which, combined with moisture and oxygen from air, oxidize back to rust (Fe₂O₃·nH₂O). This explains why rust removal sometimes causes more rust and why acids speed up iron surface corrosion.

• Rust Removal Causes Surface Damage

Marble rust removers—or simply acids—are mostly acidic, even strongly acidic. While removing surface or internal rust from stone, they simultaneously damage the stone surface. Marble’s main component, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), reacts with acids like hydrochloric acid.This dissolves stone material, causing surface roughness and whitening.

• Cleaning Causes Surface Damage

Acid cleaning of cement residue on marble surfaces damages the stone through the same mechanism as acid rust removal. Cleaning granite or tiles with exterior wall cleaners or toilet bowl cleaners (containing hydrofluoric acid) dissolves the main component silica (SiO₂), causing material loss that results in porous, rough, whitened surfaces prone to staining.​

Organic Solvent Damage: Solvents like thinner used on organic artificial stone dissolve or age the resins, creating porosity, roughness, whitening, and staining. Glue removers on dry-hang stone may compromise adhesive bonding, posing safety risks.​

Alkaline Cleaning Issues: Strong alkalis on tiles or granite—especially at high temperatures—dissolve surface components. On artificial organic stone, they age resins, causing whitening and roughness.

• Protection Gone Wrong

Everyone knows protection is better than no protection—but that’s not always true. Wrong protectant selection, improper process, incorrect dosage, etc., can turn sealants into invisible killers.​

• Applying protectant to stone undersides can cause hollow drumming during installation.
• Resin-based protectants block stone breathing pores, turning it into tile-like material.​
• Uneven underside coating leads to mottled surface appearance.
• Surface protection may trap moisture inside stone, causing permanent water spots.​
• Resin surface protectants have poor weather resistance, developing mottling over time; over-application creates oily dark spots from high solute concentration.
• Water-based alkaline sodium (potassium) methyl silicate can cause new efflorescence.

• Polishing Killers

Polishing has four deadly “bullets”:​

Bullet 1: Wet polishing introduces excessive water that penetrates stone and even cement layers, potentially causing efflorescence or other pathologies.​

Bullet 2: Using soft pads on mixed-hardness stones like granite with softer inclusions (ma-gang stone) causes deformation under pressure. Soft areas grind down deeply while hard areas remain untouched, making holes permanent or larger no matter how much polishing.​

Bullet 3: Uneven machine movement creates wavy, uneven surfaces.

Bullet 4: Dry polishing causes joint subsidence and other defects.

• Crystal Surface Killers

This killer is the most insidious—working invisibly, like boiling a frog slowly. The number one culprit is polishing steel wool:

Harm to workers: The acids in the crystallizing agent volatilize during high-temperature steel wool polishing, harming onsite workers.​

Main source of external rust: Steel wool, essentially iron wool, reacts with acid to form iron salts, which in contact with oxygen and water form rust, polluting the stone.​

Enlarging pores and cracks: On stones with existing pores and cracks such as Jin Bi Hui Huang and gray net stones, steel wool polishing enlarges these defects and accelerates weathering.​

Steel wool use requires great caution to avoid these hidden damages.

• Wax-Containing Crystallizers (Most Liquids & Some Pastes)

Traditional or low-grade crystallization materials still rely on wax for organic film formation and shine. If liquids don’t shine enough, add wax; if pastes fail, add wax.​

How wax becomes a killer:

• Wax forms a seamless, non-porous film that blocks stone “breathing.” Trapped subsurface moisture causes darkening and pathologies—turning premium stone into low-grade tile.​
• Poor wear, weather, and water resistance means short-lived shine.​
• Organic wax yellows over time, darkening the crystallized surface.​
• Wall applications attract dust and show water streaks (wax’s water-repellency).​
• Wax-based finishes appear yellow with distorted reflections.

• Penetrating Fillers: New Killers

Inorganic penetrating fillers represent the new trend in stone maintenance. However, wrong material selection turns “allies” into ruthless killers. Viscous sodium- or potassium-based water glass (sodium silicate) can re-dissolve upon water exposure—surface water penetration or bottom evaporation reopens pores and causes massive efflorescence.​

Water glass works in cement curing due to reactive calcium ions forming insoluble calcium silicate. Stone lacks active calcium ions; it only reacts with atmospheric CO₂ to form silicic acid. Despite silicic acid’s insolubility, excess sodium/potassium ions make it water-soluble.

• Scraper Glue Killers

Scraping glue from stone surfaces—whether AB resin or UV-cured resin—is a historical mistake.​

Resin glues are impermeable. Stone always contains or develops subsurface moisture; evaporation lifts and delaminates the resin. Natural resin aging causes powdering or detachment. This “treatment” provides no real protection and ultimately damages stone long-term.

2.The Unsung Heroes

In stone care or maintenance, many improvements in quality and function are invisible to the eye, but more valuable than surface aesthetics. When you appreciate this value, you have moved beyond mere stone care into genuine stone maintenance.

Stone maintenance enhances both the natural character of the stone and its external beauty and internal functions. It is a process like a youth’s growth, nourishing knowledge and wisdom while strengthening physical form with dual oars.

This understanding differentiates simple cleaning from true preservation and care that prolongs the life and elegance of natural stone.

• Invisible Protection

This unsung hero works silently, unseen and unfelt.​

• Applied to stone undersides, it blocks alkaline migration (like efflorescence), prevents internal rusting, and stops artificial stone bases from alkalizing and powdering.
• On surfaces, it prevents stain penetration and protects against acid rain corrosion that causes weathering, whitening, and powdering.

Proper protection maintains external beauty while greatly extending lifespan. Use penetrating (not topical) sealants—ideally fluorinated with strong weather resistance and oil repellency.

• Invisible Functional Enhancement through Penetrating Fillers

Stone is highly porous, and smaller pores mean denser stone with stronger structure. “Magic Silicon”—a highly penetrative hard inorganic material—works internally to deliver these benefits:​

• Densifies stone while preserving its natural breathing ability.
• Reacts with alkaline substances to prevent efflorescence.
• Provides excellent gloss and light transmission.
• Enhances gloss depth and richness.
• Offers acid resistance and weathering protection.
• Reflects 80% of UV light to slow aging.
• Boosts crystallization polishing efficiency, reducing labor costs.
• Delivers strong anti-stain and oil-repellent properties post-polishing.

• Inorganic Repair: Future Solution

Traditional repairs using marble glue or resins (AB or UV-cured) have these flaws:​

• Organic-inorganic incompatibility.
• Organic aging and poor weather resistance.
• Complete pore blockage.
• Moisture lifting the repair.
• Incomplete repair and cleaning difficulties.

Inorganic polymer adhesives offer superior penetration, bonding, and weather resistance with excellent inorganic stone compatibility.​

Spray 103° A/B or “magic silicon” during grinding to wet and press stone powder into old/new pores/cracks, achieving glass-smooth texture. Polished with wax-free crystallizer, durability matches the stone’s lifespan.

• Invisible Crystallization Functions

Superior crystallization materials are inorganic surface formers—true unsung heroes with these hidden benefits:​

• Wax-free, preserving stone’s natural breathing.
• Repairs surface scratches.
• Boosts surface gloss, revealing stone’s unique inner beauty and texture.
• Increases surface hardness and wear resistance.
• Enhances weathering resistance, water repellency, and lifespan.
• Prevents stone pathologies without causing them.
• Safe for workers, eco-friendly for residents and environment.
• Easy to apply with low cost.
• Provides clear, undistorted reflections.
• Excellent slip resistance for safety.