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Thermal laminate vs high pressure.
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.
A cabinet door with laminate surfacing will last longer than a cabinet door that is surfaced with thermofoil.
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.
With the absence of the multiple layers of kraft paper that is found.
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.
The thermal fused melamine surface is thinner than high pressure laminate so it is more vulnerable to scratches and chips.
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.
Many quality rta cabinets use laminate covered plywood for the body of the cabinets.
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.
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.
Each is produced differently.
This designation refers to the process of attaching the laminate to the substrate core.
Tfl is a melamine saturated paper that is thermally fused directly to the substrate.
A quality laminate will hold to the wood without peeling.
And while both materials are moisture resistant if you left a sweating glass on the surface of each overnight the results would be different.
However low pressure laminates cost less.
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.
When it comes down to choosing between a hot and cold laminator there are many things to think about.
Posted this on jul 2 2015.
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.
So it is a give and takes the situation.
It is glued and then pressed to the mdf using a cold press process giving it the best possible bond.
Contact a local contractor for laminate and thermofoil options.
Thermally fused laminate tfl and high pressure laminate hpl.
With hpl products the laminate is adhered using 1 000 to 1 500 pounds of pressure per.
