Knowing About the Varieties of Worktop can be Difficult but Necessary

Nowadays the interior design of every workspace has gained a lot of importance. Earlier, interior designing was limited to office spaces only. Then it spread to homes and now it is everywhere. Even a chemical lab in an institute or a research organization demands proper interiors.

There is a lot of logic involved too for such requirement. Interiors are now not just for show; they are much more functional than ever before. It is like having the right mix of beauty with brain. The materials used for interiors need to look good as well as be safe. It is not just about safety of the users, the materials themselves should be such that there is least damage by corrosion and otherwise.

Looking at the growing demand, many new varieties of materials have been developed over the recent times. Different materials have different sets of advantages and disadvantages- not one material can serve all purposes. As an user, one has to have a clear view about all the materials that are being considered. This will result in making the best possible choice in a particular case.

Why is resistance to corrosion so important?

In case of tabletop surfaces that are used in labs, corrosion is of highest importance. Many of the chemicals in a lab are corrosive. They can immediately or over time etch a material out of a surface. In labs, there will be spilling and drops of various acids, alkalis and other kinds of chemicals will keep on falling on the tabletop surfaces. Thus, anti-corrosion property in lab tabletops become of primary importance.

However, it is not only about corrosion. The choice for a lab tabletop has to consider a few other parameters that are equally important, like heat resistance, impact, moisture and others.

How heat resistance plays a role?

In a lab, there are experiments going on. Many of these need the heating process that is done using burners. Thus, heat is actually a must in a chemical lab. Now, the tabletop surfaces are therefore going to be exposed to heat over long period of time and too often. The temperature may also be absurdly high in some cases.

The tabletop material thus has to ensure that it can withstand such high temperature, even if exposed to pretty regularly. There are very few materials that do not catch fire. Thus, materials are made flame and heat resistant with the help of chemical treatment. A coating of the chemical used actually helps in increasing the heat resistance. This coating can, however, come out over time. Thus, this chemical treatment can be repeated after regular intervals.

Other proofing that is needed

Besides corrosion and heat, there may be requirement for other types of safety for the tabletop material as well. These may include resistance to moisture, microbes and bacteria, type of usage. Besides, the ergonomics and the cost also play important role in choosing the tabletop surface for chemical labs.

Varieties of tabletops

A lot many varieties of worktops for chemical labs have been developed. Some of them possess high strength while a few others have other important properties. Epoxy resin based worktop is one of the variety most commonly used. These kinds of worktops can withstand high stress and strain and rough usage for quite some time. They are also not very high on cost, thereby being one of the varieties that are more preferred.

The phenol based resin worktop also comes very close in the race. They are lighter in weight as compared to epoxy resin variety. Thus, they are sometimes preferred more, since in many cases, lighter varieties which are also low on cost are chosen. Like epoxy resin, the phenolic resin variety is also good to look at and provide a very high shine and aesthetic feel.

The stainless steel worktops are actually the most preferred when it comes to safety and hygiene. They are most anti-microbial in nature, but of course, the cost will go up for such worktops. Then there are also the specially made chemical resistant laminated worktops. They are made out of a combination of resin and paper of a rough surface variety, bonded together and fitted on the top.

The hardwood worktop varieties are also available, and they are most sturdy and long lasting in nature. They may not be having high anti-microbial property, but the elegance in look will always be there. They will also be having a higher cost than most of the other varieties.

It is important to know your worktop

It may be difficult for a person to make a choice of worktop after going through so much of technical details, but unfortunately, information is the base of right decision. Without proper information, the choice of right worktop may not be perfect. Hence, it is important to have a fair idea about the various worktop varieties available.

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