Xenolith

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Xenolith Installation Guide

• Handling & Storage
  • When moving sheets, ensure care is taken to avoid scratching the decorative surface.
  • Store in an enclosed area protected from moisture and heat.
  • When storing vertically, place side exactly vertical and support over the full height.
  • When storing horizontally, support bearers should be no more than 600mm apart.
  • Ensure pooling of water on the surface cannot occur and allow sufficient ventilation and drainage in enclosed spaces.
  • Maximum overhang must not exceed 300mm.
• Tooling

  Standard tools can be used for machining and processing such as sawing, drilling, and routing.

• Finishing

  Neither the surface nor exposed edges need to be protected or sealed.

• Drilling and Screwing

  polytec Xenolith is a very hard material. Use high-quality screws and ensure to predrill pilot holes or follow the directions recommended by the screw manufacturer. Be cautious not to overtighten.

  • The use of support sheets is recommended.
  • When drilling parallel to the surface (edge drilling), at least 3mm must remain from the hole.
  • When working with polytec Xenolith, ensure your tooling and hardware are resilient. Discuss with your hardware supplier suitable screws, hinges, and brackets for required strength and corrosion resistance.
• Screw Location

  Screws should be carefully positioned to prevent splintering (minimum 20mm to edge). Screwing directly into the edge of a panel is not recommended. Metal brackets are recommended when fixing two panels together. Mitring of edges should be avoided as they are vulnerable to damage; a chamfered edge or crescent-shaped edge will avoid edge chipping.

• Sawing

  To achieve optimum finishing, always use trial pieces to test before actual operation. Always ensure the decorative surface is facing upwards to prevent damage and chipping of the edges.

  • Use a carbide or diamond-tipped saw blade.
  • Ensure saw blades are sharp, and replace or sharpen as necessary.
  • Smooth all sharp sawn edges with fine sandpaper or a router.
• Routing

  For routing edges, use a hard metal or diamond cutter at a slow speed to achieve proper finishing without burn marks. This can be done using a CNC machine or manually operated tooling.

  Manual Operated Routing

  Bit Diameter (mm)	No. of Revolutions (rev/min)	Speed (m/s)	Feeding Speed (m/min)
  20	18000	20	5
  25	24000	30	-

• Gluing and Mechanical Fixing
  • Under-bench cabinets must be manufactured with supports no larger than 600mm apart at the top of the cabinets.
  • Xenolith should not be installed on large flat panels as air is required to flow freely around both surfaces.
  • Use pre-drilled 10 gauge screws as mechanical fasteners no more than 600mm apart.
  • Ensure all joins are mechanically fixed and screwed to the supporting substrate at each end and throughout the joint.
  • Roughen the surface slightly and ensure all foreign matter is removed before applying adhesive.
  • Apply high-strength flexible adhesive in a snaking pattern over all contact surfaces.
  • Apply pressure using a mechanical fastener for 4–8 hours at 20°C as per the adhesive manufacturer's recommendations.
• Splashback Installation

  polytec Xenolith can be used as a splashback. For heat and cleaning requirements, use full sheets wherever possible to avoid joins. Adhere to the minimum clearance guidelines for electric or gas cooktops:

  • 200mm clearance is required for gas cooktops.
  • Follow AG/601 guidelines for combustible splashbacks adjacent to electric cooktops.

  
  

  

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