Corian is a brand of

solid surface material Solid surface material, also known as solid surface composite, is a man-made material usually composed of a combination of Aluminium hydroxide, alumina trihydrate (ATH), Acrylic resin, acrylic, Epoxy resin, epoxy or polyester resins and pigments. ...

created by

DuPont Dupont, DuPont, Du Pont, duPont, or du Pont may refer to: People * Dupont (surname) Dupont, also spelled as DuPont, duPont, Du Pont, or du Pont is a French surname meaning "of the bridge", historically indicating that the holder of the surname re ...

. Its primary use is as a

countertop A countertop, also counter top, counter, benchtop, worktop (British English) or kitchen bench (Australian or New Zealand English), bunker (Scottish English) is a raised, firm, flat, and horizontal surface. They are built for work in kitchens o ...

, benchtop surface,

wash basin A sink (also known as ''basin'' in the UK) is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have a tap (faucet) that supplies hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for fas ...

, and

wall panel A wall panel is single piece of material, usually flat and cut into a rectangular shape, that serves as the visible and exposed covering for a wall. Wall panels are functional as well as decorative, providing insulation and soundproofing, combin ...

. It is composed of

acrylic polymer Acrylic may refer to: Chemicals and materials * Acrylic acid, the simplest acrylic compound * Acrylate polymer, a group of polymers (plastics) noted for transparency and elasticity * Acrylic resin, a group of related thermoplastic or thermoset ...

and

alumina trihydrate Aluminium hydroxide, , is found as the mineral gibbsite (also known as hydrargillite) and its three much rarer Polymorphism (materials science), polymorphs: bayerite, doyleite, and nordstrandite. Aluminium hydroxide is Amphoterism, amphoteric, ...

(ATH), a material derived from

bauxite Bauxite () is a sedimentary rock with a relatively high aluminium content. It is the world's main source of aluminium and gallium. Bauxite consists mostly of the aluminium minerals gibbsite (), boehmite (γ-AlO(OH)), and diaspore (α-AlO(OH) ...

ore.

History

Corian is the original material of this type, created by Donald Slocum, a chemist at DuPont, in 1967. His name appears on the patent issued in October 1968. The product was first introduced for sale in 1971, at the

National Association of Home Builders The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is one of the largest trade associations in the United States, representing the interests of home builders, developers, contractors, and associated businesses. NAHB is headquartered in Washington, D ...

meeting in Houston, Texas. Originally conceived as a kitchen and bath material available in a single color, Corian is now manufactured and delivered in more than 100 colors and patterns. In 2014 DuPont introduced a range with darker colours that are more resistant to scratches and cuts than earlier-generation Corian material.

Material characteristics

Corian consists mainly of aluminum trihydroxide (55–60%) and

polymethyl methacrylate Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a synthetic polymer derived from methyl methacrylate. It is a transparent thermoplastic, used as an engineering plastic. PMMA is also known as acrylic, acrylic glass, as well as by the trade names and brands ...

(34–45%) with trace elements of iron oxide black, carbon black, titanium dioxide, colorants and methyl methacrylate. Its characteristics includes: * Non-porous * Stain resistant * Seamless appearance: In the fabrication process, joints can be made nearly invisible by joining adjacent pieces with Corian's own color-matched two-part acrylic adhesive. The joined edge can be sanded and polished to create a visually imperceptible joint. * Repairable and renewable: Cuts and scratches can be abraded then further buffed to restore original surface finish. * Thermoformable: Flexible when heated, Corian can be shaped and molded into a variety of forms which can be used in commercial and artistic projects through a process called

thermoforming Thermoforming is a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific shape in a mold, and trimmed to create a usable product. The sheet, or "film" when referring to thinner gauges and cert ...

. Heat resistance: the material is heat resistant up to 100°C (212°F), but can be damaged by excess heat. DuPont recommends the use of

trivet A trivet is an object placed between a serving dish, bowl, pot, or pan and a dining table, usually to protect the table from heat damage. The word ''trivet'' refers to three feet, but the term is sometimes used in British English to refer to t ...

s when the material is installed in kitchens. Scratches: The material can be scratched, with scratches particularly noticeable on darker colors. Corian does not lose its visual appearance or fade for many years, sometime decades. Corian is manufactured in three thicknesses: , , and . Most Corian is manufactured at a DuPont facility near

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

. Cross-section cuts show consistent color and particulate patterning evenly distributed throughout the material, giving rise to the category name "solid surface".

Safety

Safety of installed material

Corian meets or exceeds current emissions guidelines for

volatile organic compound Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. They are common and exist in a variety of settings and products, not limited to Indoor mold, house mold, Upholstery, upholstered furnitur ...

s (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and is "Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified". Corian is non-toxic and non-allergenic to humans. It is free of heavy metals and complies with the EU Directive 2002/95EC on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). Its hygienic properties make it popular in installations where maintaining sanitary conditions is important (e.g. hospitals and restaurants).

Fabricator safety

In 2014, the ''

New England Journal of Medicine ''The New England Journal of Medicine'' (''NEJM'') is a weekly medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. Founded in 1812, the journal is among the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. Its 2023 impact factor was ...

'' reported a case of a 64-year-old exercise physiologist who died from lung disease consistent with

idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) synonymous with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis is a rare, progressive illness of the respiratory system, characterized by the thickening and stiffening of lung tissue, associated with the formation of scar ...

after 16 years of exposure to Corian dust. Dust from Corian was found in the patient's shop of Corian fabrication and lung upon autopsy. The authors said that the case was consistent with Corian dust causing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but did not prove causality.

References

External links

* {{Official website Brand name materials DuPont products