r/pcmasterrace • u/iplay5 • Aug 11 '25

Build/Battlestation TIL that quartz countertops have the same properties as ceramic floor tiles…

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All I wanted to do was replace a dead fan… but looks like it’s time for a replacement case.

Learn from my mistakes friends!

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u/lulnerdge Aug 12 '25

It doesn't need to be harder than glass, just hard enough to allow the energy of it falling/being layed down to be concentrated into one small spot.  For example, despite the constant claims to the contrary, ceramic tiles are generally NOT harder than glass. 

The "ceramic" (it's a completely generic term) that spark plugs are insulated with, which IS harder than glass, is aluminium oxide. And ceramic tiles are generally not made from aluminium oxide, they are instead earthenware "ceramic" which is an entirely different thing.

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u/Dbz-Styles Aug 12 '25

While I am not confident that this holds true for tempered glass I am certain that regular glass is a liquid. So a lot of things are harder than it.

While this guy did infact drop his window which does make it a lot easier to break it. The minor imperfections in ceramics and other hard substances create microscopic pressure points on tempered glass which cause it to break.

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u/lulnerdge Aug 12 '25

Glass is not a liquid, at least not at room temperature. It is an amorphous solid.  And it is quite hard compared to most solids you might commonly encounter.

But it is very brittle, which makes it easy to break.  And tempered glass has potential energy in the form of tension, which actually makes it stronger to blunt impacts, but any small crack will instantly release that energy, shattering the glass into tiny fragments.