Marble TRA (Travertine)
Grade
ASTM C503
Porous, voided banded carbonate stone — chosen for its texture and light weight; needs filling/backing and is weakest of the C503 family.
Values for the TRA condition
Other Marble tempers and conditions
Marble is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Marble.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TRAThis page Travertine | Porous, voided banded carbonate stone — chosen for its texture and light weight; needs filling/backing and is weakest of the C503 family. | — | 5 | — | — | 2 W/m·K |
CALDefault Calcite marble | Default white/veined statuary and cladding marble — best polish and carving behaviour, most acid-sensitive. | — | 8 | — | — | 3 W/m·K |
Dolomitic marble | Pick when higher density, harder wearing surface and slightly better acid/weather resistance than calcite marble are needed. | — | 9 | — | — | 3 W/m·K |
Serpentine marble / Verde antique | Green silicate-based 'marble' — tougher and much more acid resistant than carbonate marbles, but prone to moisture-sensitive veining and shop-setting. | — | 12 | — | — | 3 W/m·K |
What is Marble TRA?
Marble TRA is Marble in the TRA grade — porous, voided banded carbonate stone — chosen for its texture and light weight; needs filling/backing and is weakest of the C503 family. Marble TRA has a tensile strength of 5 MPa (0.725 ksi), weaker than 85% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.02% and the elastic modulus is 40 GPa (5.8 Msi). Marble TRA has a density of 2.45 g/cm³ (0.0885 lb/in³), heavier than 85% of natural material grades. CAL is the default condition FabDigit quotes; TRA is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 1.2 MPa·√m (1.09 ksi·√in), better than 93% of natural material grades
- High service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), better than 88% of natural material grades
- Low embodied carbon — 0.16 kg CO₂/kg, better than 87% of natural material grades
- Conducts heat well — 2 W/m·K (1.16 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of natural material grades
- Stiff — 40 GPa (5.8 Msi), better than 85% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.02%, worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 25/100, worse than 88% of natural material grades
- Heavy — 2.45 g/cm³ (0.0885 lb/in³), worse than 85% of natural material grades
Marble TRA properties
Typical room-temperature values for Marble TRA; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Marble reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Marble TRA has a density of 2.45 g/cm³ (0.0885 lb/in³), heavier than 85% of natural material grades.
Mechanical12
Marble TRA has a tensile strength of 5 MPa (0.725 ksi), weaker than 85% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.02% and the elastic modulus is 40 GPa (5.8 Msi).
Thermal5
Marble TRA is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 2 W/m·K (1.16 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 7 µm/m·K (3.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Marble TRA has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁸ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is poor (25/100), worse than 88% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Marble TRA takes about 3 MJ of energy and emits 0.16 kg of CO₂ — less than 87% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Marble TRA's machinability is very good (70/100, worse than 67% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Marble TRA
Is Marble easy to machine?
Cut and profiled with water-cooled diamond blades, wire saws and CNC routers; keep feeds moderate and support the slab to avoid edge chipping and vein-line fracture.
Can Marble be welded?
Not weldable — sections are joined mechanically (anchors, kerf clips) or with epoxy/polyester stone adhesive and dowels.
Can Marble be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming; shape only by sawing, carving, waterjet inlay and hand tooling — thin panels below ~20 mm need resin-fiberglass or honeycomb backing.
What surface finishes work on Marble?
Takes a mirror polish with progressive diamond/tin-oxide abrasives; honed, brushed, flamed (calcite only) or sandblasted finishes are common, and an impregnating silane/siloxane sealer plus acid-free cleaners are needed to protect the polish.
Marble chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CaCO3 (calcite)principal mineral of calcitic marble | 80 – 99 | 95 |
| MgCO3 (as dolomite)up to ~45 % CaMg(CO3)2 in dolomitic marble | 0.5 – 15 | 2 |
| SiO2quartz / silicate accessory minerals | 0.1 – 5 | 1 |
| Al2O3clay/mica impurities | 0.05 – 2 | 0.3 |
| Fe2O3 + MnOsource of veining and colour | 0.02 – 1.5 | 0.2 |
| accessory minerals (graphite, pyrite, secontrols colour and staining risk | 0 – 5 | 0.5 |
Marble TRA — frequently asked
What is Marble TRA used for?
Marble TRA is typically used for countertops and vanity tops, sculpture and monuments, interior flooring and wall panels, decorative tile and building facades. In short: highest polish of stones; acid-sensitive interior stone; moderate carving workability.
What is the tensile strength of Marble TRA?
Marble TRA has a typical tensile strength of 5 MPa (0.725 ksi) — weaker than 85% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Marble TRA easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, worse than 67% of natural material grades). Cut and profiled with water-cooled diamond blades, wire saws and CNC routers; keep feeds moderate and support the slab to avoid edge chipping and vein-line fracture.
Can Marble TRA be welded?
Not weldable — sections are joined mechanically (anchors, kerf clips) or with epoxy/polyester stone adhesive and dowels.
What surface finishes work on Marble TRA?
Takes a mirror polish with progressive diamond/tin-oxide abrasives; honed, brushed, flamed (calcite only) or sandblasted finishes are common, and an impregnating silane/siloxane sealer plus acid-free cleaners are needed to protect the polish.
Can Marble TRA be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming; shape only by sawing, carving, waterjet inlay and hand tooling — thin panels below ~20 mm need resin-fiberglass or honeycomb backing.
What is the maximum service temperature of Marble TRA?
Marble TRA is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM C503/C503M Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM C99, C170, C880, C97 — stone test methods (modulus of rupture, compressive strength, flexural strength, absorption/density) — ASTM International (2023)
- Dimension Stone Design Manual, v8 — Natural Stone Institute (2016)
- Physical Properties of Rocks — thermal and elastic property tables — Elsevier / Landolt-Börnstein (2011)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — stone — Circular Ecology (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.