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Corian is the brand name of one of many building materials collectivly known as solid surface and is composed of acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate made by DuPont. It is said to be a thermosetting plastic, but can be thermoformed by heating it to 300°F (149°C), allowing unique shapes to be created. Its primary use is for countertops, but is also commonly used as a wall cladding in moisture applications (wet walls). Solid surface materials are very versitile and can be joined, shaped and finished to create many products.

Corian is available in thicknesses of one-quarter, one-half and three-quarters of an inch, with half-inch being the most common thickness for most applications. All thicknesses feature the consistency of color and patterning throughout, common to all solid surfacing materials. This allows scratches, stains and light scorches to be removed with sandpaper. Joints can be made invisible by joining them with a special seam adhesive and sanding the connection smooth.

Meganite solid surface has 80 closely replicated color matches with similar chemical makeup as Corian, but it is offered at a significantly lower price.

The LG Group markets their 100% acrylic solid surface under the LG HI-MACS brand and is manufactured in the United States just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. LG HI-MACS offers similar styles and quality to DuPont, but also offers a longer installed warranty and a lower price point than Corian in most markets. Although LG HI-MACS is susceptible to scratching, it can be renewed, in most cases, simply by the consumer using a Scotch-Brite scouring pad. As far as heat is concerned, LG HI-MACS is heat resistant, but it is recommended that trivets be used, as opposed to placing hot pots and pans directly onto the surface.

Samsung's Staron solid surface is also on the rise in the competition. Wilsonart has their Gibraltar solid surface. A more expensive, different approach to the countertop industry is Avonite. Avonite is a solid surface, but made primarily from a polyester base, not an acrylic one.

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