View source for Corian

{{short description|Brand of material composed of acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{advert|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Corian New Logo 2017.png|alt=Corian New Logo 2017 by GBR Design|thumb|Corian brand logo]]
[[File:OldCorianLogo.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|Former logo]]
'''Corian''' is a brand of [[solid surface material]] created by [[DuPont (1802–2017)|DuPont]]. Its primary use is as a [[countertop]], benchtop surface, [[Wash-basin|wash basin]], and [[wall panel]]. It is composed of [[acrylic polymer]] and [[alumina trihydrate]] (ATH), a material derived from [[bauxite]] ore.
== History ==
[[File:Corian samples.jpg|thumb|Corian samples]]
[[File:CorianIntegratedSink.jpg|thumb|An integrated Corian sink]]
Corian is the original material of this type, created by Donald Slocum, a chemist at DuPont, in 1967.<ref name="DPCS">{{cite AV media |title=A Brief History of DuPont Corian |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dx56Q3fW1Q  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/-Dx56Q3fW1Q |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|medium=Streaming video  |publisher=[[DuPont]] |via=[[YouTube]] |year= 2013 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Dr. Donald Slocum |department= Obituaries |url= http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?n=donald-slocum&pid=104716542 |work= [[The New York Times]]  |date= March 2, 2008 |access-date= June 28, 2014 }}</ref> His name appears on the patent issued in October 1968.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Birth of Solid Surface |url= http://njquartz.com/the-birth-of-solid-surface |access-date= June 28, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026014004/http://njquartz.com/the-birth-of-solid-surface |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The product was first introduced for sale in 1971, at the [[National Association of Home Builders]] meeting in Houston, Texas.<ref name="DPCS" />
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.<ref>{{cite web |title= The Colors of Corian |url= http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/construction-materials/surface-design-materials/brands/corian-solid-surfaces/products/corian-all-colors.html |publisher= DuPont |access-date= June 28, 2014 }}</ref> In 2014 DuPont introduced a range with darker colours that are more resistant to scratches and cuts than earlier-generation Corian material.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= DuPont Corian launches DeepColour Technology to Develop Dark Colours for Solid-Surface Material |url= http://www.dezeen.com/2014/02/11/dupont-corian-launches-deepcolour-technology-to-develop-dark-colours-for-solid-surface-material/ |magazine= Dezeen |date= February 11, 2014 |access-date= June 28, 2014 }}</ref>
== Material characteristics ==
[[File:Engraving on Corian.jpg|thumb|Corian being [[engraving|engraved]] for [[signage]]]]
[[File:WalkingTable.jpg|thumb|"Walking" table made of thermoformed Corian]]
Corian consists mainly of aluminum trihydroxide (55–60%) and [[Poly(methyl methacrylate)|polymethyl methacrylate]] (34–45%) with trace elements of iron oxide black, carbon black, titanium dioxide, colorants and methyl methacrylate.<ref>https://casf.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Corian-Solid-Surface-_-Material-Composition-.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title= Corian: 40 Years, 40 Designers |url= http://www2.dupont.com/40_40/en_GB/press_room/DuPont_Corian_40Years_40Designers_eng.pdf |publisher= DuPont |date= April 2007 |access-date= June 28, 2014 |archive-date= July 11, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120711072306/http://www2.dupont.com/40_40/en_GB/press_room/DuPont_Corian_40Years_40Designers_eng.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>
* 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]].
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]]s when the material is installed in kitchens.<ref>{{cite web |title= Technical Specs for Corian Countertops |url=http://wikiclass.us/en/info_8142083_technical-specs-corian-countertops |access-date= June 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903082631/http://wikiclass.us/en/info_8142083_technical-specs-corian-countertops |archive-date=3 September 2014}}</ref>
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: {{Convert|6|mm|in}}, {{Convert|12|mm|in}}, and {{Convert|19|mm|in}}. Most Corian is manufactured at a DuPont facility near [[Buffalo, New York]]. 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]]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).<ref>{{cite web |title= Earn LEED Certification Points with DuPont Surfaces |url= http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/construction-materials/surface-design-materials/brands/corian-solid-surfaces/articles/leed-certification-points.html |publisher= DuPont |access-date= June 28, 2014 }}</ref>
=== Fabricator safety ===
In 2014, the ''[[New England Journal of Medicine]]'' reported a case of a 64-year-old exercise physiologist who died from lung disease consistent with [[idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis]] 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.<ref name="NEJM">{{cite journal |title= Pulmonary Fibrosis Associated with Aluminum Trihydrate (Corian) Dust |journal= New England Journal of Medicine |date= May 29, 2014 |first1= Ganesh |last1= Raghu |first2= Bridget F. |last2= Collins |first3= Daniel |last3= Xia |first4= Rodney |last4= Schmidt |first5= Jerrold L. |last5= Abraham |volume= 370 |issue= 2 |pages= 2154–2157 |doi=10.1056/NEJMc1404786 |doi-access= free }}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
[[Category:Brand name materials]]
[[Category:DuPont products]]