Is Porcelain Stronger Than Pottery? The Ultimate Durability Showdown

5 Factors That Make Porcelain Tougher

1. Molecular Density

• Porcelain: Kaolin clay vitrifies at 1400°C, creating a glass - like matrix resistant to micro - cracks.
• Pottery: Standard clay sinters at lower temps (≤1100°C), leaving microscopic pores that weaken structure.

2. Water Resistance

• Porcelain: 0.5% water absorption (shower tiles survive decades)
• Pottery: 5 - 10% absorption (terracotta planters crack in freeze - thaw cycles)

3. Load - Bearing Capacity

• Lab test: 10cm porcelain slab holds 250kg; same - size pottery fails at 80kg.
• Why? Kaolin’s aluminum silicate crystals interlock tighter than pottery’s iron - rich clay.

4. Scratch Resistance

• Porcelain: Mohs 7 hardness (survives metal utensils)
• Pottery: Mohs 4 - 5 (shows knife marks easily)

5. Thermal Shock Survival

• Porcelain withstands 150°C sudden temperature changes (oven - to - fridge safe)
• Pottery cracks at 50°C shifts unless fully glazed

Where Pottery Wins

• Impact Resilience: Thick stoneware mugs survive drops better than thin porcelain cups.
• Cost Efficiency: Pizza ovens use refractory pottery bricks—cheaper for high - mass applications.
• Artistic Repairability: Kintsugi works better on porous pottery surfaces.

Answering Top Searches

• “Can porcelain break easily?” → Less than pottery, but thin designs remain fragile.
• “Why are restaurant plates porcelain?” → Stain/chip resistance withstands dishwashers.
• “Is pottery dinnerware safe?” → Only if food - grade glazed (lead risk in low - fired ceramics).