High Pressure Laminate Vs Melamine

Understanding the differences between high pressure laminate and low pressure melamine is the best way to choose the right product for the project.

High pressure laminate vs melamine.

Made up of a wear resistant overlay decorative sheet and impact resistant kraft wilsonart high pressure laminate hpl offers long lasting beauty function and performance. Applications include bench tops joinery wall panelling lockers tables where scuff resistance is prominent. Also called direct or low pressure laminate. 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.

General purpose vertical surfacing and post forming and is generally not attached to wood. 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. Laminex launched the first high pressure laminate or hpl onto the australian market way back in 1952. 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.

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. However it is popular among the people only as melamine. Many quality rta cabinets use laminate covered plywood for the body of the cabinets.

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. 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. Melamine is also referred to as direct pressure laminate or low pressure laminate. 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.

It s important to note that both high pressure laminate and thermal fused melamine provide a durable low maintenance solution for any office space. Both materials are available in a variety of finishes although high pressure laminate offers a wider variety of pattern and texture. So it is a give and takes the situation. Of course there is a cost savings with thermal fused melamine.

It s what you get when thin paper is applied at 300 500 psi on a substrate board. However it is popular among the people only as melamine. Technically speaking melamine is the glue used to saturate the layers of paper transformed into a solid plastic surface through thermal fusion.