High Pressure Laminate Vs Melamine

The process used to attach the melamine infused laminate paper to a substrate is really where the high pressure laminate differs from the low pressure laminate.

High pressure laminate vs melamine.

General purpose vertical surfacing and post forming and is generally not attached to wood. However low pressure laminates cost less. Low pressure laminate also known as pre finished board or melamine is a thin single melamine paper bonded directly to a substrate usually craft wood or particle board. 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.

Understanding the differences between high pressure laminate and low pressure melamine is the best way to choose the right product for the project. 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. The material is a high pressure laminate hpl manufactured under 1 400 pounds of pressure per square inch more than three times over melamine sheets. Many quality rta cabinets use laminate covered plywood for the body of the cabinets.

Technically speaking melamine is the glue used to saturate the layers of paper transformed into a solid plastic surface through thermal fusion. A high performing durable engineered surface used for a variety of vertical and horizontal applications wilsonart s hpl also offers a broad range of attractive patterns and texture possibilities. Applications include bench tops joinery wall panelling lockers tables where scuff resistance is prominent. It s what you get when thin paper is applied at 300 500 psi on a substrate board.

So it is a give and takes the situation. Melamine high pressure laminate is commonly referred to as hpl and is manufactured under 1000kg per square metre of pressure pressing down on 6 to 8 layers of kraft paper bonded with phenolic resin glue then topped by a polymer facing. Of course there is a cost savings with thermal fused melamine. Laminex launched the first high pressure laminate or hpl onto the australian market way back in 1952.

However it is popular among the people only as melamine. Also called direct or low pressure laminate. Both materials are available in a variety of finishes although high pressure laminate offers a wider variety of pattern and texture. Plastic laminate comes in three grades.

Since then laminex laminate has become a mainstay in australian homes and commercial spaces. This is a product that results when a thin paper is pressed at a high pressure of 300 500psi to a board. It s important to note that both high pressure laminate and thermal fused melamine provide a durable low maintenance solution for any office space.