Shine Behavior of Ornamental Rock Plates with the Reduction of Water Consumption in Polishing

The polishing process is an important phase in the processing of ornamental stones, through which it is possible to obtain materials with a high aesthetic standard desired by the international market. This process requires good equipment and a constant flow of water, in order to provide higher quality products. A well-polished material has a higher level of shine and is valued more. Thus, the present work aimed to propose a reduction in the water flow during the polishing process to evaluate the feasibility of reducing water consumption while increasing the quality of the final product. To carry out the study, three types of rocks were chosen: Corumba Grey, Dallas White and Itabira Ochre. The experiments proved to be efficient and the quantitative analysis can be an important tool in obtaining a brighter final product and, also, an opportunity to save water.