There are many materials to choose from when it comes to countertops. There are natural stone countertops materials such as granite and marble that are elegant but expensive. Wood is another material for countertops use that gives certain warmness to a home but requires proper care and maintenance. Fabricated solid surfaces like the corian countertop, is another way to go in your quest to find a perfect fit for your kitchen cabinet. Now there is another option to look at in the Alkemi countertop.
Alkemi countertops are made of recycled composite material consisting of at least 60% post industrial aluminum scrap and polymeric resins. The recycled aluminum scrap and the resin are put together to form a solid surface material that is strong, durable and exquisite looking.
As mentioned above, the Alkemi countertop is made of mainly two materials. The first is aluminum scrap. The aluminum scrap collected is post industrial and not post consumer because processing post industrial aluminum scrap consumes less time and energy. The collection of the post industrial aluminum in fabricating the Alkemi countertop diverts the scrap aluminum from entering the waste stream where aluminum is typically burned while emitting pollutants.
The other material that makes up an Alkemi countertop is polymeric resin. This resin is made of polyester and is normally sourced from resin manufacturers. The polymeric resin is used to bind the aluminum scrap to form a solid countertop surface. Polymeric resin is widely used in the eyeglass industry and there is hope in the future that the polymeric resin used in Alkemi countertops could be from recycled sources as well.
Since resin are toxic, especially when it is in liquid state, Alkemi ensures that the resin dust that are produced from sanding the countertops are re-captured and re-circulated into the formula to form one of the opaque resins in the Alkemi countertop line.
As proof of commitment to recycling and protecting the environment, Alkemi are committed to taking back their unused products such as unused pieces from a countertop installation to be used as sample countertop materials sent out to designers. From the packaging in which they send their samples, to the paper the brochure is printed upon, their passion for the environment is evident.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.ehealtharticle.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
