WEEKEND DIY FOR DANNY SEO – MARBLE ICE-CREAM DISH

It wasn't easy thinking of what we can do with the marble tiles. There are loads of small projects, magnets and coasters, but they are not exactly taking advantage of the properties of marble. We got onto the internet and researched the material.

MARBLE FACTS
Marble is the product of limestone that has been crystallized from changes in pressure and temperature. The primary element of this stone is calcite, which is the most widely distributed mineral on the earth's surface.

MARBLE RESISTANCE
The word "marble" stems from the Greek marmaros "shining stone". Because of its beauty and elegance, marble is a popular choice for counter tops, floor and fireplace surrounds; although, marble is much softer than granite or engineered stone.

Marble works beautifully especially in the bath where the veining patterns and colors can create exquisite designs. However, it is sensitive to acidic foods such as vinegar, lemon juice, tomatoes and wine. Therefore, marble is less durable in highly utilized areas.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Avoid any acidic or abrasive cleaners that can dull or etch the surface over time. Cleaning should be done with mild soap and water. Marble can also be sealed to help prevent the absorption of stains into the stone.

MARBLE AND TEMPERATURE
Apart from knowing the origin of marble, the first thing that came into our minds was temperature; When carpet and a marble floor are at same room temperature, why does carpet feel warmer than a marble floor?
Your sense of an object's temperature actually depends on the direction of heat flow between it and your skin. When heat flows from the object to your hand, for example, the object feels warm to the touch. When heat flows from your hand to the object, it feels cool. You can confirm this by soaking one hand in warm water and the other in cold. Then, put each hand into room temperature water. The warm hand will make you think the water is cool, the cold hand will make you believe the water is warm.

Temperature difference between an object and your skin is one condition resulting in heat flow, but there are others.

Wind chill factor makes the same air temperature feel different to your skin because convection removes heat more quickly from you skin when air is moving over it. Another factor affecting the flow of heat is conductivity, or the ability of material to transfer heat efficiently. Some materials, like metals and marble, are good conductors and allow heat to flow easily from and to your skin. Other materials (called insulators), like the material in carpeting, are poor conductors and do not allow heat to flow very easily. So even when they are at the same temperature, a cold marble floor transfers heat quickly away from your feet, while a cold carpet prevents that flow from occuring as quickly. That makes the marble "feel" colder.

MARBLE AND ICE-CREAM
This really seems like the perfect choice for the marble tiles. Pop a couple of these dishes into the freezer before serving the ice-cream and it works just like a dish made of ice. It will keep the ice-cream frozen for a longer time, but only more stylish.