Why decorate your interior with a high pressure decorative laminate panel?
Dressing a wooden wall makes the atmosphere warm, practical and even bucolic. A fortiori, a modern taupe living room or an adult bedroom become cocooning when a decorative laminate panel reconciles the seduction of the design and the fidelity of the experience. In addition, this functional unit can hide the roughness either thanks to an advanced technique (decorative high pressure laminate), or by an artisanal finish.
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A decorative laminate panel as wall covering
Commercial linksLaminate products are mainly used as furniture surface materials or as wall coverings in the living room, bedroom, hallway and even in the bathroom. They can be manufactured as high or low pressure laminates. The two processes are not much different from each other except for the pressure applied during the pressing process.
Commercial linksHigh-pressure laminate is composed of layers of resin-impregnated cellulose, which are consolidated under heat and high pressure. The different layers represent:
The decorative laminated panel is very popular for private and residential housing, hospitals and laboratories, public buildings, hotels, schools, commercial buildings, sports and recreational centers.
What exactly is decorative high pressure laminate?
It is a thermosetting composite material based on resin and paper and has a robust, resistant, modern and very decorative surface. It is ubiquitous in our daily lives and is freestanding or used in conjunction with substrates. The areas of application and use are extremely diverse and constantly changing. This requires knowledge management that provides regularly updated information and support regarding different applications and processing.
Where can this wallcovering be applied?
Indoors, the decorative laminate panel has wide application: walls and partitions, ceilings, doors, flooring, stairs, furniture/chairs, trim, window sills, worktops, countertops.
Even outside, decorative high-pressure laminate is applied to facades and balconies.
Once the papers have been impregnated with the resins, the three layers are placed in a press which simultaneously applies heat (120°C) and pressure (5 MPa). The pressing operation allows the thermosetting resins to flow into the paper and then harden into a consolidated sheet with higher density. During the pressing cycle, the decorative surface can also be hardened while in contact with a textured surface to create one of many different surface finishes.
SHP consists of more than 60-70% paper, while the remaining 30-40% is a combination of phenol-formaldehyde resin for the core layers and melamine-formaldehyde resin for the surface layer. Thanks to them, the material is stable and non-reactive with characteristics different and superior to those of the components.
When is the high pressure panel available?
HPS are available in a wide range of colors, patterns and abstracts combined with different textures and gloss levels. Excellent reproductions of natural materials such as textiles, fabrics, exotic wood veneers and stone can be made.
Different printing technologies, for example, digital, screen printing and offset printing can be used to produce personalized designs. Alternative finishes such as metal, real wood veneer and pearlescent effects are available to expand the designers palette.
The properties and characteristics of decorative high-pressure laminate
Antibacterial properties are important for decorative laminates, as these products are used as worktops, cabinets and table tops and are in constant contact with food and small children. So the antibacterial standard guarantees the health of the inhabitants. However, some companies have their production tested for both E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
A decorative laminate panel is also tested for a common antifungal standard, known as ASTM G21-09.
There are many different standards regarding the flame retardant properties of high pressure laminate panel.
When mentioning the mechanical and physical properties of the laminated panel, it is necessary to highlight its resistance to scratches, abrasion, shocks, heat, steam and boiling water. It is sunlight fast and antistatic until electrically dissipated.
Among the chemical properties, we can list the resistance to stains, chemical attacks and organic solvents.
HPS are hygienic, harmless, non-toxic and safe to use in contact with food.
Durability of high pressure laminate panel
Compared to other decorative materials like paints, thermoplastic sheets, veneers, etc., HPS provides significantly longer life. For interior applications, a minimum life of 20 years can be expected without loss of appearance and performance. The material is also preferred for exterior cladding.
Cleaning and maintenance
Due to their impermeable surfaces, SHPs are easy to clean and maintain. Available in different sizes, they cover large areas without seams. However, this installation allows the extension of the surface to cover the edges and upstands. As compact laminates have the advantage of avoiding vulnerable adhesive joints, the most stringent hygiene requirements can be met.
