[Andy Graves]

Check out this new product by Corian. It is only available in Europe but I would love to know more about it. Anyone heard of it?

CLICK HERE

[Patrick McGrath]

AB stands for Anti-Bacterial.(I believe)

We have never had any demand for it and a quick look through my current DuPont Product Offering Book does not seem to show it as still being available.

There are a number of other products available, including i believe other Siolid Surfaces which incorporate the proprietary Microban that has anti-bacterial properties.

[Tom M]

I had to look this up, just to be sure:
from Webster’s online:
Aseptic

Pronunciation: (")A-'sep-tik, &-

Function: adjective

Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary

1 a : preventing infection <aseptic techniques> b : free or freed from pathogenic microorganisms <an aseptic operating room>
2 : lacking vitality, emotion, or warmth <aseptic essays>

I thought Corian has had this product out for awhile. Anti-Bacterial, if it is going to appeal to anyone, should appeal here. I still wonder how the anti-bacterial agents leech out to the surrounding surface to repel any growth, but not get into our systems personnaly?

Is Lenny out there anywhere? If he can explain glow in the dark sol surf, he can explain this.

Tom

[Jon Olson]

Corian AB is somewhat expensive. If i understand correctly its not available in the sates . Not sure if it meets the fire codes here.

[Wags]

Aristect published a report on Micro Ban a few years ago. Bottom line was there was absolutly no difference with or without microban on Acrylic material. I’ll try to find the report and scan it, or, Andy perhaps you can contact Avonite and get it directly.

[Russ Lee]

I saw the AB product in Japan several years ago when doing some articles for the magazine. The premise is that while regular SS will not support the growth of bacteria, the AB stuff goes on a search and destroy mission — actually kills on contact. At the time, it was only available in Asia and Europe. As I recall, the reason we were given for not having it in the US had to do with regulations at FDA.

. . . . . Just looked up one of the articles from July 2000. Here’s an excerpt:

The Toyama DMR plant was established in
1987 and utilizes one continuous cast solid surface production line. The
set-up and operation of the facility is very similar to the DuPont plant
in Buffalo, New York in that it uses the same technology for casting,
cooling and cutting the sheets. What
makes this operation unique, however, is that the Toyama plant
manufactures straight veined Venaro, four variations of wood-grained
material called M-Wood, and AB or Anti-Bacterial Corian. M-Wood and
straight-veined Venaro are distributed only in Japan while AB Corian is
marketed in Asia and Europe.

According to Plant Manager, Kazunori Abe,
the anti-bacterial agent in AB Corian is blended into the filler, which
is then dispersed throughout the thickness of the sheet. Tests performed
using the E-Coli bacteria demonstrate that when it is placed on the
surface of AB Corian, the material not only won’t support bacterial
growth, it actually actively destroys the germ. Until recently, DMR was
the only producer of anti-bacterial solid surface, but now faces
competition from another Japanese material known as Kurari, which
manufactures a similar product in addition to its full line of acrylic
solid surface materials. AB Corian is not allowed in the United States
because its formulation includes heavy metals such as silver and zinc.

[Tom M]

Russ,

I saw the Buffalo plant in ’92 (actually it’s not really in Buffalo – it has a different location in it’s name, IIRC). Very impressive. I would assume the one in Japan dedicates the lines to each product? Or do they mix ’em up as production requires?

This anti-bacterial stuff troubles me on two levels.
One – nature abhors a vacuum, and I wonder what she’s gonna find as a replacement. Life at that level evolves way too fast.

Two – not to go all tort on anyone, but if the anti-bacterial elements can leach into bacteria, what long-tern effects will it have on our systems? Okay, that’s a bit X-files, but still…

Tom

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