Characteristics of a Laminate Sheet
A laminate sheet is the material used for countertops, furniture or other creative designs. According to formica.com, laminates are a high density veneer that is ready for use. Laminate is made of 3 layers of various papers that are thermoset--fused together with heat. High pressure is then used to form one sheet of laminate. Does this Spark an idea?
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Composition
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Formica.com describes the bottom layers of laminate as kraft paper infused with a phenolic resin, which gives the finished product strength, flexibility and durability. The middle sheet has patterns and designs and is injected with melamine formaldehyde resin and is what gives the sheet the color and clarity. The top, protective layer is made of alpha cellulose paper permeated with the same resin as the middle layer. This finished top surface is what gives the sheet resistance to damage.
Applications/Uses
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Flexibility is one of the great features of laminate and provides a vast array of uses. Wilsonart.com describes the art of "postforming" by taking a thinner sheet of laminate, heating it, and wrapping it very tightly onto another surface. Most people are familiar with the "postformed, pre-fabricated countertops", which have become very decorative and useful in many situations. Postforming has become popular in commercial settings for artistic applications for columns or other areas and also for making unique furniture.
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Benefits
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Sustainability and a long-lasting product that will provide an appealing look are some benefits of laminate. Another benefit is that with all the new colors and patterns of laminate available, they have the ability to give the appearance of a real wood grain or stone counter without the expense of the real thing.
Standards
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Formica.com defines standards of performance of their brand of laminate. The laminates are tested for resistance to many factors, including surface wear, temperature resistance, impact, cracking, scratching, staining and color changes from lights. Other standards to test performance of laminate are postformability and how it reacts to fire.
History of Laminate
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Laminate was first invented by the Westinghouse Co. in Pittsburgh in 1909. It was first used for insulation for electrical devices. The company added a decorative paper to the top of laminate sheets in the 1920s and thus started the trend for countertop and other uses.
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