So it is a give and takes the situation.
Thermal laminate vs high pressure.
With hpl products the laminate is adhered using 1 000 to 1 500 pounds of pressure per.
There are two types of laminate that we use pretty often for furniture.
This designation refers to the process of attaching the laminate to the substrate core.
Many quality rta cabinets use laminate covered plywood for the body of the cabinets.
When you become a homeowner and want to tackle some basic home improvement projects you will inevitably become familiar with the materials used such as thermofoil and laminate.
It is glued and then pressed to the mdf using a cold press process giving it the best possible bond.
In creating high pressure laminate the layer of laminate is adhered to the substrate under pressures of 70 to 100 bars and temperatures of 280 to 320 degrees fahrenheit using adhesives.
With the absence of the multiple layers of kraft paper that is found.
Thermally fused laminate tfl and high pressure laminate hpl.
A cabinet door with laminate surfacing will last longer than a cabinet door that is surfaced with thermofoil.
Each is produced differently.
However low pressure laminates cost less.
The thermal fused melamine surface is thinner than high pressure laminate so it is more vulnerable to scratches and chips.
When its time to have the look of high pressure laminate hpl with similar performance thermally fused laminate tfl also referred to as thermally fused melamine tfm is often used.
While both of these types of machines will provide you with durable preserved documents there are differences between the two of them in regards to available supplies cost and so on.
The real difference is in the backing of the material hpl or high pressure laminate has a plastic backing and is the more durble of the two as well as having a high degree of water resistance due to the pre consumer recycled plastic backing but this also make the material much harder giving it a superior scratch resistance.
High pressure laminate hpl is an actual plastic laminate with a backer that makes the finish on the face of the slatwall more durable than lpl.
The high pressure laminate hpl which is manufactured under 1400psi will give you a better product that will chip and crack less than a low pressure laminate.
Thermally fused laminate tfl is created by soaking decor paper with resin and allowing it to partially dry.
Posted this on jul 2 2015.
When it comes down to choosing between a hot and cold laminator there are many things to think about.
A quality laminate will hold to the wood without peeling.
Low pressure laminate means the layer of laminate is adhered to the substrate under pressures of 20 to 30 bars at temperatures of 335 to 375 degrees fahrenheit with no adhesives.
Contact a local contractor for laminate and thermofoil options.
Tfl is a melamine saturated paper that is thermally fused directly to the substrate.