Corian

Corian is a widely used material, mostly recognised for being work and countertops. However, today we had a lecture from Ryan Beggs, a member of Corian's team, who explained the material's many different applications and properties. There are different types of Corian,

acrylic-based, polyester-based and a combination of acrylic and polyester. Acrylic is the best-quality form of Corian as it is the most durable and UV resistant. The more polyester the material contains, the cheaper and more brittle the Corian is.

Corian is a very versatile material as it comes in a large number of different colours and textures. Ryan outlined the colour portfolio of Corian, and I was impressed by the range of costumes the material had. My favourite style was Terrazzo, as it's fascinating how an acrylic material can appear like stone. Some other exciting features of the product was its seamless appearance, which makes the product more hygienic as there are no joints to trap dirt and bacteria within. Another benefit of Corian is its durability. As my university projects have been primarily commercial, I need to propose materials that will last in high traffic places. Corian is an impressive solution as it is resistant to stains, UV rays, bacteria, acids, cosmetics and graffiti. The material can be moulded into different shapes as its thermoformable. It can also be backlit as it has a translucent range which expands design opportunities.

Ryan also shared some unique applications of Corian. Yes, the material can be used as a countertop in kitchens, but it also can be used in restaurants, retail, receptions desks, office spaces and interior and exterior cladding. I am excited to experiment with this material. I have some ideas of using the material as cladding and backlighting it to create some interesting effects in my current project. The product can even facilitate wireless charging. I am blown away by how versatile a material I always associated with countertops is!