Common Materials for Cabinet Countertops: Artificial Acrylic

Common materials for cabinet countertops: artificial acrylic

Currently, the commonly used countertop materials for cabinets include artificial quartz, acrylic, and stainless steel, each with its own advantages and characteristics.

acrylic

First, let's take a look at the artificial acrylic countertop material, also known as artificial stone. High-quality artificial stone primarily consists of aluminum powder and resin, where the content of aluminum powder directly determines the hardness of the product, while the resin component influences the toughness of the acrylic countertop.

The cabinet countertop has the following advantages:

a. Artificial acrylic belongs to the category of denture materials and can be safely used in direct contact with food

b. More environmentally friendly, zero radiation

c. High toughness allows for various shapes to be formed

d. It can achieve a seamless connection effect when made into a countertop

e. Even if the surface ages or gets damaged after repeated use, it can be sanded and planed again for continued use

Drawbacks, such as:

a. The anti-penetration performance is relatively poor. When using the countertop later, if it gets dirty accidentally—such as common spills like oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar in the kitchen—it must be cleaned promptly. Otherwise, stains may become difficult to remove, affecting the overall aesthetics

b. Acrylic is highly prone to scratches and can easily be scratched by hard objects, resulting in marks on the countertop

c. At the same time, this material is not heat-resistant and prone to cracking and deformation

These three points are the drawbacks of using artificial stone countertops. If your kitchen cabinets have acrylic countertops, you should avoid impacts, high-temperature objects, and stains on the surface as much as possible.

Occasionally, one might encounter counterfeit or substandard artificial stone products on the market. These inferior artificial stones primarily consist of calcium powder, mixed with resin (aluminum powder is more expensive).

There are more drawbacks to using this product: first, the material itself is unstable and prone to cracking and deformation; second, this artificial stone yellows over time and cannot be restored through polishing—it only makes it rougher. Therefore, selecting the right type of artificial stone for cabinet countertops is crucial.

How can one distinguish?

First, observe the glossiness of the artificial stone countertop: if the surface reflects light brightly like a mirror when tilted, it indicates a higher aluminum powder content; conversely, if it appears dull and lacks shine when tilted, the countertop is likely made of inferior artificial stone.

The second step involves observing the transparency of the tabletop. A higher level of transparency indicates a greater resin content in the material, which enhances the tabletop's flexibility. This indirectly suggests a longer lifespan, making it a high-quality product.

So, how can you assess transparency? There are two simple methods: First, hold a small sample of the countertop in your hand, then shine a strong light on it. Observe the light sensation and transparency—done. If the light transmittance is better, it proves the acrylic countertop is a high-quality product; if the light transmittance is poor, it indicates inferior quality.

Secondly, you can also check the thickness of the countertop (the thickness directly affects the load-bearing capacity of the cabinet). Typically, the thickness of artificial stone countertops is 1.2cm, with a deviation of around 0.5cm, which is considered normal. Poor-quality acrylic countertops often have significant deviations in thickness, generally falling below the specified value of 1.2cm, and even lower measurements are common.