| Solid Surface Materials (so called man-made polymers) have been highly successful in interior construction, where they vie with granites, marbles and other natural stones in home and different commercialenvironments, from hotels to healthcares, retails to banks. It was invented and produced by DuPont chemist Donald Slocum in 1965; the original idea was to create a material that would behomogeneous and totally solid all the way through; with a consistency of color, pattern and voidof air bubbles. The surface had to beseamless, non-porous, easy to clean, environmental friendly, radiation-free, flame retarded as well as stain and chemical resistant. Best of all, it should also have a rich and pleasing 'look'.
"Solid Surface" has become the generic term for a group of materials that for many years was primarily used for making countertops. However, because of the unique qualities of Solid Surface, it is now being fabricated into various home and commercial applications such as vanity tops, windowsills, frames, shower pans, tub walls, decorative borders and panels, tabletops, cutting boards, cutlery handles and many other products including lab furniture and artistic sculptures. The versatility of Solid Surface material makes it ideal for both custom designing as well as solving "problem" situations.
The foundation for Solid Surface materials relies on two main ingredients, Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) and unsaturated polyester resin (UPR). Various granules and additives are mixed in to enhance the color effect and at the same time give the finished product certain desirable characteristics that are unique to the manufacturer. The mixture is cast in a mold and cured in a process that results in a sheet of Solid Surface.
Solid Surface was first introduced to China at the beginning of 1990s, and was soongrowth rapidly in the building materials market throughout the years. It can now be easily found at hotels, restaurants, airports, banks, hospitals, laboratories, healthcare centers, schools, department stores and retails shops, etc.
The beauty of Solid Surface Materials is that if you can imagine it, you can probably create it. |
