FLOORING
Colour stability is an important consideration in selecting a material for exterior
use. Individual colours of Corian® have different levels of colour stability for exterior
applications. DuPont has set up a test program in order to better understand the
weathering performances of different colours of Corian®.
DuPont™ Corian®
can
be
used
as
a
flooring
material
in
low
traffic
areas
where
high
abrasion resistance is not required. DuPont™ Corian® is warm to the touch, making it
ideal
for
bathroom
floors
on
which
people
walk
barefooted.
T his
application
allows
for
the
possibility
of
material
and
colour
co-ordination
between
the
floor,
walls
and
vanity
®
tops. The following characteristics make DuPont™ Corian the perfect material for this
specific
application:
inconspicuous
joints
to
give
the
impression
of
a
continuous
floor
with
the
option
of
a
coved
connection
between
the
floor
and
walls,
decorative
inlays
in
contrasting
colours,
easy
maintenance
to
remove
superficial
scratches
and
surface
damage.
DuPont™ Corian®
can
be
installed
on
any
flat
surface
suitable
for
tiling
including
dry concrete, moisture-resistant plywood, water-resistant gypsum board, vinyl or
even
existing
tiled
floors.
If
the
substrate
is
not
solid
and
uniform,
loose
parts
must
be
removed
and
gaps
filled
with
broken
tile
and
tile
adhesive.
All
surfaces
must
be
steady,
horizontal,
perfectly
flat
and
clean.
Any
residue
such
as
dust,
oil
or
wax
must
be eliminated before starting the installation process. An epoxy adhesive can be used
to attach DuPont™ Corian® to the substrate to allow for expansion. To maximise slip
resistance, particularly in wet areas, it is recommended to roughen the surface by
sanding
with
120+
µμm
grit
paper.
When
fabricating
a
floor
in
DuPont™
Corian®, it is
important
to
avoid
trapping
uncured
adhesive,
which
could
weaken
the
flooring
system.
Testing at the DuPont Weathering Station in Florida was performed in accordance with
ASTM G7. Panels of Corian® were exposed facing south at 45° from the horizontal for
a two-year period. In certain cases, preliminary colour assessments were made based
on accelerated xenon arc light test in accordance with ASTM G155 and Florida exposure
testing of comparable Corian® colours. All exposure testing was performed on material
with a nominal thickness of 12.3 mm.
Colour changes for both tests were measured with instruments and calculated in units
of ∆E
(total
colour
difference)
as
defined
in
A STM
D2244.
T he
colours
listed
on
the
table
below offer good colour stability with a colour change less than or equal to 5 ∆E units
over 10 years based on tests carried out according to the ASTM standards described
above.
Please contact DuPont for information on the weathering performances of other Corian®
colours and for further advice on colour selection for