What is diatom mud?
Although diatom mud has the word “mud” in its name, it actually has nothing to do with soil. Diatoms are plant-based plankton that lived in the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago. Over time, they have gone through countless earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and crustal movements, and they also produced 70% of the earth’s oxygen. Diatom mud is mostly porous, with roughly 5,000 to 6,000 times as many pores as charcoal, so it can absorb a large amount of moisture. Diatom mud is available in a variety of soft colours and does not fade easily. It needs to be trowelled onto the wall, has a rough texture, and can be used as an artistic coating.
Regulates indoor humidity
Diatom mud is known for its strong moisture absorption. In humid environments, it can absorb moisture, while in dry environments it can release moisture, regulating the room’s air humidity to between 40% and 60%. This is unfavourable for the growth of bacteria and viruses, and provides users with a comfortable level of humidity. However, it is not recommended for use in bathrooms, as contact with water can easily cause the surface to peel off.
When water is sprayed onto a diatom mud wall and then wiped with a tissue, the moisture has basically been absorbed by the wall, and the tissue is hardly wet.
Air purification
The pores in diatom mud can absorb odours from pets, smoke, toilets and more. It can also adsorb and break down formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and VOCs. After harmful substances are decomposed, they no longer volatilise, helping to improve air pollution problems caused after renovation.
Thermal insulation and fire resistance
Diatom mud is made from stone-based raw materials. It has no ignition point and is non-combustible, so it will not produce harmful gases in the event of a fire, nor will it help conduct heat. Another benefit of its low thermal conductivity and good insulation performance is that it helps keep interiors warm in winter and cool in summer. It can improve the effectiveness of air conditioning and heating, creating a comfortable space.
Long service life
The surface of diatom shale does not carry static electricity, so dust will not cling to the wall. However, please note that because diatom mud itself is highly absorbent, it cannot be wiped with water; otherwise, the water will be absorbed directly into its molecular structure. That said, stains such as soy sauce and tea marks will automatically degrade after about half a year, so it can be said to have a self-cleaning function.
Sound absorption and noise reduction
Because diatom mud contains countless pores, it has strong sound-insulating properties. It can absorb and reduce noisy echoes, absorb high-frequency sound ranges that are harmful to the human body, and at the same time reduce low-frequency noise, allowing you to enjoy a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment.
There are many diatom mud products on the market. If you do not know how to choose and are worried about buying counterfeit or inferior diatom mud products, you can visit Decoman and ask a specialist to introduce Wakabe diatom shale or ECOU water-based diatom mud.
About the author:
Decoman is committed to making renovation in Hong Kong free from hassle and unfinished projects. To achieve this mission, every member of Decoman continues to work hard to promote standardisation in the renovation, building materials and home markets, changing the way tens of millions of families approach renovation and home living, and creating an excellent online renovation experience for users. As a leader in Hong Kong’s online renovation sector, Decoman will bring new changes to traditional renovation and home services through an O2O model, provide free renovation measurement/quotation, and also organise the renovation pitfall prevention flagship class, continuously creating value for users and leading the development of the industry.
(All images above are reproduced from Decoman)
