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Interior Finish-Out Components
Published in Kathleen Hess-Kosa, Building Materials, 2017
Synthetic granite/marble, also referred to as engineered stone, quartz surfacing, countertop is an acrylic solid surface composite with crushed quartz. The original quartz surfacing countertop was introduced in 1990 under the trade name of Silestone which has since become a generic term. With pigments and quartz, acrylic solid surfacing can take on the appearance of granite and marble. Its cost is less than that of natural stone. It can be formed into any shape. It looks “similar” to real stone. Whereas granite has natural variegation, synthetic granite does not. It requires less maintenance than natural stone, and does not require sealant. As with acrylic solid surface countertops, monomer (e.g., methyl methacrylate) emissions are unlikely. However, thermal decomposition (such as with the use of hot cookware) can result in the release of the acrylates which are regulated substances and can at low levels cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation.
Characterisation of the tensile performance of bonding agents for the restoration of heritage dimension stone from southeast Australia
Published in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2023
A total of three commonly used masonry bonding agents have been selected to determine their capacity to re-bond dimension stone. The three bonding agents included Tenax®, Akepox®5010 and Megabond® epoxy.Megabond: “is suitable for bonding stone and tile to all masonry surfaces including cement sheet, cement render, plasterboard, timber and is suitable for both interior and exterior applications”. It is noted to have a bond strength of 2.7 MPa on concrete (Vivacity Engineering Pty Ltd., 2015).Tenax: “designed for the nearly seamless bonding of porcelain, sintered stone, glass, engineered stone, marble and quartz, and natural stone products”. It is noted to have a bond strength greater than 20 MPa on quartz and granite (Tenax USA LLC, 2016).Akepox: “is mainly used in the stone-working industry for the weather resistant bonding and gluing of natural stone (marble, granite) as well as artificial stone or building materials (terrazzo, concrete)”. It is noted to have a bond strength of 40 MPa (GmbH A, 2023).
Hazardous dusts from the fabrication of countertop: a review
Published in Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2023
W. Kyle Mandler, Chaolong Qi, Yong Qian
Workers in the countertop industry, including those who manufacture, fabricate, and install commercial and residential countertops and bathroom fixtures, may not at first glance, appear to be at risk for serious dust-related pulmonary occupational hazards. Indeed, while their work may not elicit images of dust-laden air associated with underground miners, sandblasters and concrete cutters, countertop workers have been increasingly reported to be at risk due to hazards associated with the composition of some emerging popular materials they fabricate.1 While workers in this industry may install countertops made from a variety of natural materials such as granite, marble, slate, and soapstone, this review focuses on the most popular manmade materials—solid surface composite (SSC)—and engineered stone (ES) and addresses the questions that have been raised in the last decade about the occupational safety of working with both ES and SSC.