| A laminate is a material constructed by | | | | Heated roll laminators |
| uniting two or more layers of material | | | | |
| together. The process of creating a laminate | | | | Film types |
| is lamination, which usually refers to | | | | |
| sandwiching something between layers of | | | | Laminate film is generally categorized into |
| plastic and sealing them with heat and/or | | | | these five categories: |
| pressure, usually with an adhesive. | | | | |
| | | | Standard thermal laminating films |
| The materials used in laminates can be the | | | | |
| same or different. An example of the type of | | | | Low-temperature thermal laminating films |
| laminate using different materials would be | | | | |
| the application of a layer of plastic film | | | | Heatset (or heat-assisted) laminating films |
| — the "laminate" —on either | | | | |
| side of a sheet of glass — the | | | | Pressure-sensitive films |
| laminated subject. On the other hand, plywood | | | | |
| is a common example of a laminate using the | | | | Liquid laminates |
| same material. Examples of laminate materials | | | | |
| include Formica and plywood. Formica and | | | | Pouch Laminators use a lamination pouch that |
| similar plastic laminates (such as Pionite, | | | | is usually sealed on one side. The inside of |
| Wilsonart or Centuryply Mica) are often | | | | the lamination pouch is coated with a |
| referred to as High Pressure Decorative | | | | heat-activated film that adheres to the |
| Laminate (HPDL) as they are created with heat | | | | product being laminated as it runs through |
| and pressure of more than 5 lbf/in2 (34 kPa). | | | | the laminator. The substrate side of the |
| A new type of HPDL is produced using real | | | | board contains a heat-activated adhesive that |
| wood veneer or multilaminar veneer as top | | | | bonds the print to the substrate. This can be |
| surface. Alpikord is one of these laminates | | | | any of a number of board products or another |
| produced by Alpi spa. | | | | sheet of laminate. The pouch containing the |
| | | | print, laminate and substrate is passed |
| Laminating paper, such as photographs, can | | | | through a set of heated rollers under |
| prevent it from becoming creased, sun | | | | pressure, insuring that all adhesive layers |
| damaged, wrinkled, stained, smudged, abraded | | | | bond to one another. |
| and/or marked by grease, fingerprints and | | | | |
| environmental concerns. Photo identification | | | | Pouch laminators are designed for moderate |
| cards and credit cards are almost always | | | | use in the office or home. These inexpensive |
| laminated with plastic film. Lamination is | | | | machines are quite effective. However, for |
| also used in sculpture using wood or resin. | | | | continuous, large-volume lamination projects, |
| An example of an artist who used lamination | | | | a roll laminator performs more efficiently. |
| in his work is the American, Floyd Shaman. | | | | |
| | | | Pouches can be bought with different levels |
| Types of laminators | | | | of micrometres (referred to as MIC) with |
| | | | standard home or office machines normally |
| Three types of laminators are used most often | | | | utilising 80-250 micrometre pouches depending |
| in digital imaging: | | | | on the quality of the machine. The |
| | | | micrometres relate to the thickness of the |
| Pouch laminators | | | | pouch. The thicker, the higher the cost. |
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