A Brief History of Laboratory Countertops

Laboratories are notoriously cruel places to work. A typical countertop would be ruined by harsh chemicals, heavy equipment, continuous handling of reagent and sample containers, not to mention vulnerability to heat and water. As a result, there is a distinct category of worksurfaces that are regarded suitable for use in a laboratory environment.

Prior to the invention of the modern laboratory, laboratory work was carried out on slabs of quarried stone, with Soapstone being a popular choice due to its resilience to acids and bases, as well as its capability to withstand direct heat. It is a gorgeous surface that ages gracefully and develops a rich patina as a result of the oils that are used to maintain it. Nostalgic. Tops like this were extensively utilized during the construction boom that followed World War II.

As the market progressed, there was a constant hunt for surfaces that were more consistent, less costly, and more readily accessible. An example of this was a sandstone quarry slab that had been treated with epoxy resins and glossy to a high gloss finish to ensure it would endure a long time. Another type of worksurface was the asbestos-cement worksurface, which was known for its exceptional durability, heat transfer, and chemical resistance. In the course of time, the sandstone tops encountered cost and availability issues, while the asbestos was no longer available due to health and safety concerns.

It was at this time (the mid-1970s and early 1980s) when epoxy resin began to dominate the market. In this section, we will start our exploration of the seven countertop material possibilities available for consideration for your next laboratory construction project. As a baseline for comparison, we shall use Epoxy as our reference material.

Epoxy Resin Is A Kind Of Resin That Is Used In The Construction Industry

Epoxy resin worksurfaces are the classic black counters that may be found in laboratories across the board, from school labs to national research centers and all in between. This market product has dominated the market for more than 50 years, and it has grown from a black-only finish to include greys and other lighter hues that can improve the lab look (see picture of white epoxy tops below). It is made by combining modified epoxy resin with silica (sand) and other non-asbestos materials to form a composite material. This slurry is then poured into thin molds (imagine a gigantic baking sheet) and allowed to cure in enormous ovens for many hours to thermoset the epoxy in place.

The curing process combines the epoxy resin with a chemical matrix, resulting in the formation of a single substance. Acidic and alkaline chemicals have no effect on the epoxy's resilience, and the addition of silica to the structure improves its heat management capabilities, making it suited for use in most laboratory conditions.

Another advantage of this top is that the epoxy resin is monolithic, meaning that it is solid and homogeneous throughout. Furthermore, while it will scratch under typical laboratory conditions, this will just disclose additional epoxy resin.

For the present market era, this is the traditional high point, and it serves as the benchmark for comparison in this assessment. While the majority of installations are black, there are a plethora of colors available for an additional fee that can provide a more contemporary and comfortable working atmosphere.

Another thing to take into consideration is any field adjustments to the epoxy slabs that may be necessary during the installation or repurposing of the structure. Due to the fact that this is a silica-based product, OSHA standards mandate careful and severe management of any cutting or drilling activities that may result in the release of dust into the air.

Phenolic Resin Is A Kind Of Resin That Contains Phenolic Acid

However, while phenolic resin has a similar appearance and behavior to epoxy, it is just a thicker form of standard plastic laminate that has been strengthened with additional chemical resistance. The structural thickness, excellent wear qualities, chemical resistance, and capacity to withstand water are the characteristics that distinguish this product as laboratory grade.

According to a review of the goods now available on the market, phenolic resin countertops are now typically more chemically resistant and perform better than epoxy resin countertops in most cases. Epoxy used to be the most chemically resistant material available, however today certain phenolic countertops can withstand concentrated acids better than epoxy did previously.

In the past, phenolic resin countertops were more costly than epoxy resin countertops; however, this disparity has been corrected, and phenolic tops are now more affordable than epoxy resin countertops in the majority of cases. As you might guess, there are a variety of suppliers for this material: the market innovators are imported from Europe, others are created in the United States, and yet others are imported from Asia, where they tend to be less expensive (but with average performance).

Color choices are available for phenolic resin countertops as well. Whereas epoxy is more costly and more difficult to paint, phenolic may be tinted in a variety of finishes and patterns to suit any application. It is the same price to finish in black as it is to finish in white, gray, or orange.

An example of new product development is aesthetically pleasing: color-matched cores. Phenolic counters have traditionally been finished with a dark brown or black edge, regardless of the color of the countertop surface. Many designers and laboratory planners found this unpleasant at the time, but in recent years, manufacturers have developed "color-thru" technology that allows the entire countertop to be the same color as the surface it is attached to.

The countertops offered by ResinTops are made of phenolic resin and epoxy resin, which are molded and oven-cured in huge slabs that may be purchased as-is or custom-fabricated to match your particular specs and requirements.

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