Laminating Composite Panels

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION SM technical BULLETIN INTRODUCTION Over the past several decades, industrial grade particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard have been recognized throughout the wood industry as ideal substrates for laminated panel constructions, utilizing various types of decorative overlay surfacing materials. This publication discusses the major types of decorative overlays in detail and provides recommendations to the laminator on suggested lamination strategies, along with technical and performance considerations. Particleboard has been favored by laminators because of its uniform density, thickness tolerance and surface smoothness. Other board properties such as dimensional stability, strength, stiffness, flatness, screw holding strength and workability contribute significantly to the ease of fabrication and ultimate performance of the laminated end product. High-pressure laminates, thermally fused laminates and resin-saturated decorative papers, vinyl films, foils and wood veneers are the most common types of overlay materials applied to particleboard substrates. MDF has become a premier substrate for wood veneers, vinyl films, light and intermediate basis weight decorative papers, resin-saturated decorative papers and foils. Of the many properties that make MDF desirable as a substrate for laminates and overlays, the most important are its face and edge qualities. As veneers and papers have diminished in thickness, substrate quality has become more important. MDF's smooth surface, superior edge-finishing qualities, dimensional stability, flatness, close tolerances, dent-resistance, lower glue usage requirements and absence of board grain telegraphing have contributed to its wide acceptance. Good bond strength, screw holding strength and resistance to compression and warp also make MDF an ideal substrate for lamination with various laminating materials. The most common lamination processes apply overlay material to the substrate by cold or hot pressing with either flat (platen) or continuous (roll or double belt) laminating presses. Because each type of overlay material has unique properties and lamination requirements, the choice of laminating material introduces variables that affect the laminating process and influence the performance of the finished product. Laminating Composite Panels 1

Laminating Composite Panels

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laminates

civil engineering

concrete

medium density fiberboard

thickness

strength

stiffness

flatness