Standard No.:	GB/T 3810.3-2026
English Name:	Test method of ceramic tiles—Part 3: Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density
Chinese Name:	陶瓷砖试验方法 第3部分：吸水率、显气孔率、表观相对密度和容重的测定
Professional Classification:	GB    National Standard
Source Content Issued by:	SAMR; SAC
Issued on:	2026-02-27
Implemented on:	2026-9-1
Status:	to be valid
Superseding:	GB/T 3810.3-2016 Test methods of ceramic tiles—Part 3: Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density
Target Language:	English
File Format:	PDF
Word Count:	9000 words
Translation Price(USD):	270.0
Delivery:	via email in 1~3 business day

GB/T 3810.3-2026 Test method of ceramic tiles—Part 3: Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご This is a draft translation for reference among interesting stakeholders. The finalized translation (passing through draft translation, self-check, revision and verification) will be delivered upon being ordered. ICS CCS National Standard of the People's Republic of China ‌GB/T 3810.3-2026 Test method of ceramic tiles - Part 3: Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density 陶瓷砖试验方法 第3部分：吸水率、显气孔率、表观相对密度和容重的测定 Issue date: 2026-02-27 Implementation date: 2026-09-01 Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China Contents Foreword Introduction 1 Scope 2 Normative References 3 Terms and Definitions 4 Principle 5 Apparatus 6 Test Specimens 6.1 Sampling 6.2 Cutting of specimens 7 Procedure 7.1 Preparation of test specimens 7.2 Saturation with water 7.3 Weighing in suspension 8 Expression of results 8.1 Water absorption 8.2 Apparent porosity 8.3 Apparent relative density 8.4 Bulk density 9 Test report Test methods of ceramic tiles — Part 3: Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density 1 Scope This document describes the test methods for the determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density of ceramic tiles. This document is applicable to the determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density of ceramic tiles, as well as to the classification and description of products. 2 Normative references This document has no normative references. 3 Terms and definitions No terms and definitions need to be defined in this document. 4 Principle Dry ceramic tiles are immersed in water until saturation. The relevant characteristic parameters are calculated using the dry mass, the mass after saturation and the suspended mass in water. 5 Apparatus 5.1 Drying oven: Operating temperature of (110 ± 5) °C; microwave, infrared or other drying systems that can achieve the same test results may also be used. 5.2 Balance: The weighing precision of the balance shall be 0.01% of the mass of the test specimen. 5.3 Deionized water or distilled water. 5.4 Desiccator. 5.5 Fine fibre cloth. 5.6 Hanger ring, thread or basket: Capable of suspending the test specimen in water for weighing. 5.7 Glass beaker, or a container of similar size and shape: The test specimen is suspended from one end of the balance (5.2) using the hanger ring (5.6) so that the specimen is completely immersed in water, and the specimen and the hanger ring do not come into contact with any part of the container. 5.8 Vacuum vessel and vacuum system: A vacuum vessel of sufficient capacity to hold the required number of test specimens, and a vacuum system capable of achieving a vacuum of (10 ± 5) kPa [i.e., (91 ± 5) kPa below standard atmospheric pressure of 101 kPa] and maintaining it for 30 min. 6 Test specimens 6.1 Sampling Sampling shall be carried out according to the area of the samples as specified in Table 1. Examples of sampling for commonly sized ceramic tiles are shown in Table 2. The number of whole tiles and the number of test specimens depend on the size of the whole tiles. Ceramic tiles and test specimens shall not have been previously tested and shall be free from visible damage or cracks. Any loose or contaminating material shall be removed, including mesh, paper and adhesive materials used for mosaic mounting. If the mass of a single ceramic tile is less than 50 g, a sufficient number of ceramic tiles shall be taken so that each test specimen has a mass of 50 g to 100 g. For these specimens, Clause 6.2 does not apply. 6.2 Cutting of specimens 6.2.1 General requirements Each ceramic tile shall be cut in accordance with the requirements of 6.2.2 to 6.2.5. Cutting of specimens shall be carried out by scoring and breaking, or by sawing (e.g., for tiles with uneven surfaces) when scoring and breaking cannot be performed using conventional equipment. Cutting in accordance with the above requirements may be carried out at the factory, and the distance between the cut and the cutting edge shall be at least 10 cm. Specimens shall be cut within 4 h before being placed in the drying oven. After cutting, the specimens shall be kept clean and free from contamination. 6.2.2 Ceramic tiles of area less than or equal to 400 cm² The ceramic tile shall be cut into two halves, with a deviation not exceeding 1 cm. If the side lengths of the ceramic tile are unequal, the cut shall be made perpendicular to the longest side. One specimen shall be randomly selected for testing (see Figure 1). 6.2.3 Ceramic tiles of area greater than 400 cm² and not greater than 3600 cm², where x and y > 20 cm A specimen of dimensions (20 ± 1) cm × (20 ± 1) cm shall be cut from one corner of each sample (see Figure 2). 6.2.4 Ceramic tiles of area greater than 400 cm² and not greater than 3600 cm², where y ≤ 20 cm Cutting shall be carried out according to the following procedure (see Figure 3): — For x < 100 cm, one specimen shall be cut from each sample, with the long side (a) of the specimen being (20 ± 1) cm and the short side being y [see Figure 3 a)]; — For x ≥ 100 cm, two specimens shall be cut from each sample, with the long side (a) of each specimen being (20 ± 1) cm and the short side being y [see Figure 3 b)]. This cutting method also applies to ceramic tiles with an area greater than 3600 cm². 6.2.5 Ceramic tiles of area greater than 3600 cm² Cutting shall be carried out according to the following procedure: — If y ≥ 40 cm, cut five specimens of (20 ± 1) cm × (20 ± 1) cm from the four corners and the centre of each sample [see Figure 4 a)]; — If 20 < y < 40 cm, cut four specimens from the four corners of each sample, with the long side being 20 cm and the short side being y/2, with a deviation not exceeding 1 cm [see Figure 4 b)]; — If y ≤ 20 cm, cut two specimens, with the long side (a) of each specimen being (20 ± 1) cm and the short side being y [see Figure 3 b)]. 7 Procedure 7.1 Preparation of test specimens Dry the test specimens in the drying oven (5.1) to constant mass (m₁) (see note) at a temperature of 110 °C to 160 °C for a period of at least 24 h. The drying and mass determination of the test specimens may be carried out either before or after immersion in water. Usually, the dry mass of the test specimen is determined before immersion. If the test specimens are fragile, or if there is evidence that particles detach during immersion, the specimens shall be dried and weighed after the determination of the suspended mass and saturated mass to calculate the dry mass. Constant mass is achieved when the change in mass between two successive weighings does not exceed 0.1%.