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A man-made seamless and durable material, Corian falls into a separate category called ‘solid surface’ that is versatile, contemporary and unique. Invented in 1967 by Donald Slocum, a chemist at the chemicals company DuPont, Corian is a solid-surface material, whose initial purpose was to be used in the kitchen and bath spaces. Widely used as countertops, Corian is now also used for wall cladding, furniture, bathroom tubs and showers.

Corian was originally created only in the colour white, and as an alternative to laminated counter tops. It grew into a popular option for kitchen and bathroom countertops. And since the expiration of DuPont’s patent in 2003, many competitors have now developed the material in numerous colours with varied functions.

Why is it called a solid surface and what is it made up of?
Corian is a homogeneous composition of an acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate, with small amounts of other minerals. The cross-section of the material shows evenly distributed particles and consistent colour, giving rise to the term solid surface. This characteristic makes Corian non-porous, with many advantages.

Pros

• Seamlessness: One of the major reasons that designers opt for Corian is because of its seamless joints and edges. Being its signature feature, the joints are almost invisible and smooth because of a unique adhesive used. Corian has its own colour-matched two-part acrylic adhesive by which the parts are joined together. After the adhesive has dried, the joints are sanded and polished.
• Stain-resistant: Being stain-resistant, it works really well in kitchens. Since the composition of the material does not have any pores for a stain to penetrate into, it is easy to wipe off spills by using a cloth and soap. The material not allow permanent staining and is also protected from bacterial growth.
• Repairable: If damaged, Corian sections can be repaired and renewed, without the need to completely replace the material.
• Thermoformable: This means the material can be moulded into any shape and size. Taking wood or metal as a base (or moulds), Corian can be ‘thermoformed’ at a certain temperature into interesting 2D and 3D items.
• Colours: Although Corian was available only in white when it was invented, a diverse range of colours, patterns and textures are now manufactured. Popular Corian designs also include different sizes of grains and patterns (similar to terrazzo). The colour does not fade due to wear and tear, either.

Corian is a non-toxic, inert material that does not emit gases under normal circumstances. Apart from that, lighter and thinner Corian has a certain level of translucency that is enabling designers to create lighting effects using the material.

Considering these factors, Corian sounds like a suitable material for your next project, doesn’t it? But it has its cons, too.

Cons

• Durability: Corian, under extreme heat, might get damaged, especially if hot vessels are placed on it for a long duration. It can also get dented if a heavy object falls on it. Because of this, in terms of durability and strength, granite seems like a better choice, specially in kitchens.
• Price: Corian is on the expensive side of the spectrum of materials that are used to make countertops.
• Not scratch-proof: Even though Corian is stain-resistant, it is not scratch-resistant (especially in darker colours). Consequently, hitting it with sharp objects and using it as a chopping board should be avoided. The composition of Corian is acrylic, which is plastic, which might not sound like an environment-friendly option to some.

Applications
What started as an idea for kitchen and bathroom countertops, soon developed into a material with great versatility. Along with countertops, Corian can also be used for bathroom sinks, tubs and even shower surfaces. Since Corian can be moulded into any shape, and stains on it are easily washable, it is widely used to create furniture with curves and smooth edges in houses, hospitals, retail, restaurant and elsewhere.

With the advancement in technology, Corian wall cladding with textures is also available now. These can be combined with a unique lighting designs to enhance its translucency. Moreover, Corian can also be engraved and carved to create gorgeous and intricate jalis and partitions, using CNC machinery. It can be combined with other materials and used in exterior cladding too.

Sizes and prices
Corian is available in three thicknesses – 6, 12 and 19 millimetres – mostly manufactured in Buffalo near New York. Some Corian manufacturing plants are also operative in Turkey, South Korea, and China, where it is produced in huge volumes and exported globally. The cost of Corian varies. A typical plain white Corian sheet will cost less compared to coloured Corian or Corian with patterns and grains.

In India, Corian prices per square foot range from Rs 525 (for a 6 millimetre-thick sheet), to Rs 675 (12 millimetre-thick sheet), to Rs 1200 (19 millimetre-thick sheet). These prices are for the plain white sheets of the original Corian brand, DuPont.

The coloured and textured sheets are usually only available in 12 millimetre thickness, with a price range of Rs 750–1200 per foot. Apart from DuPont, some other brands also sell Corian sheets, and their rates are slightly lower.