DuPont Corian material

[spirp]

Hi everyone!

I'm trying to create a material spec for Corian, the counter top-material by DuPont. I'm almost 0% done since I got stuck on the IoR for the material. From what I gathered in the patent (http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/58563 ... ption.html), the binding material is supposed to have the same IoR as the ballast, and the ballast depends on the color of the counter top. Anyone else who'd like to interpret the patent to see if I got it right? (not really used to read patents to begin with, so I might just as well've gotten it totally wrong :/ )

If I understood it correctly, I have to find out what the ballast used in the color I'm going for (I figured, I better start with something simple, like Glacier White, which practically is just white). Any guesses on what the ballast is? I have no clue at all to be honest. I'm going to e-mail DuPont tomorrow, if I can find an e-mail to send my inquiry to.

Any input, comments, suggestions and so on, give it to me!

// Olle

[eulgrand]

Hi Spirp,

Here's a link to the european version of CORIAN's specs (PDF). I read it quickly but could not find any information related to its IoR

If you're located in Europe, you could get in touch with their offices in Geneva (details in the PDF).

Another way of getting in touch could be via... SketchUp's 3D Warehouse, where they have a collection of their CORIAN range.

I might have been more helpful 2 years ago, but I left the company...

[BbB]

If I were you I would just fake it. Hyper accurate Corian is sure to require some SSS, for instance, which wouldn't be practical if you need large surfaces (loooong render times). Besides, similar IORs can look strikingly different depending on the lighting scenario. I would just focus on a photograph and try to mimic the material incrementally.

[CTZn]

From the Corian Documentation, french quote:

Translucide dans certaines teintes et épaisseurs, Corian [...]

Translucent in some colors and thickness, Corian [...]

For that matter, in most cases translucence would be just enough, at a much lower cost than sub-surface scattering. As a reference you can get the french Corian doc by clicking this link and selecting one of the three issues under "Infos Techniques" in the menu in the left of the page, well "Documentation" actually. They have page 5 nice examples of translucent lamps, section from wich the quote is.

[BbB]

Actually I don't think a transmitter mat would work here. You'd need to try but I think it would treat the object as a hollow volume. So your worktop will look like a lampshade.

[CTZn]

quite right BbB, but you can put a real opaque shape within, actually I believe their lamps are made of 2 Corian mats, the inner being opaque. It's possible, as in the quote !

edit: ah no ! actually you are right BbB, that's one single mat hollowed... Still, the obstructing shape's trick could do

[spirp]

First of all - thanks for all input.

Eulgrand - it's never to late going back At least not for helping a fellow indigoer I'll have a look at the collection at the 3D Warehouse later, when I've figured out the basic settings. Hopefully, the textures are big enough for realistic rendering.

BbB/CTZn - I'm currently going down the "faking it"-road, and am experimenting with a blend of diffuse/glossy transparent. My idea here is that the glossy transparent's medium has SSS, and by finding the right combination in the blend, I'll be able to achieve realistic results with a slightly translucent surface, yet still a solid core.

Currently I'm experimenting with different values for the SSS and the blend, unfortunatley I'm forced to do this on my Macbook with Parallels Desktop (as I need to get some work done at the same time), so it takes some time (aprox 10spp per minute ). Right now, it seems that my material is far to glossy, but it might just be noise from the SSS. I'll let my current settings cook for a few more hours, and hopefully it'll solve the problem I'm also guessing that, since most my Corian surfaces will be block based, with beveled edges, the glossyness might not show up as apparent as in my test model.

I'll keep you posted, and feel free to give suggestions and such, as usual!

Happy rendering,
Olle