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Technical information
90
Technical information 91
Contents
Introduction
General information
Composition
Sheet sizes
Weight
Structure
Grades
Standards for material properties
Chemical resistance
Thermal properties
Care and cleaning
Processing
Handling
Storage
Conditioning
Backing boards and sheet flatness
Substrate
Adhesives
Post-forming
Machine processing of post-formed components
Corner joints
Machine processing
Hand-tools
Edging
Application
Design conditions
Bonding errors
Fire safety
Special products
Formica
®
Compact-laminate
Formica ColorCore
®
Formica
®
DecoMetal
®
Formica
®
Veneer
Formica
®
Solid Surfacing
Technical information
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Introduction
Formica has always been a leader in the laminates industry, and
today Formica® laminates are more elegant and more versatile
than ever. The material is specified by interior designers,
architects, shopfitters, builders, furniture manufacturers, and
other fabricators because of its attractiveness and durability.
The wide range, with varying patterns, colours, and simulations,
together with all the grades, adhesives, substrates, and the
various surface designs and styles available, make it easy to
develop the right specification for manufacture and end-use.
This part contains technical information and practical reference
material which facilitates the generation of a product
specification and helps with everything from choice of the right
grade to matters of design or cleaning of laminates that are
already in use.
The aim is to make it easier to work on product specifications,
not to eliminate the need for personal contacts with Formica.
Our Design, Technical Service, Manufacturer Support, and Sales
Divisions are more than willing to help with product specifications
and manufacture to guarantee that Formica
®
decorative
laminates really fulfil their purpose.
Important information
All information in this manual meets Formica´s current Conditions
of Sale. The manual is intended to supply general information on
suitable applications, and constitutes no form of warranty or
representation concerning the suitability of the products or
processes described for any given purpose. Formica has a
continuous programme of research and development, and all
users should check at least every six months to see whether the
technical information has been updated.
No information in this manual should be construed as a grant or
as an offer to grant any rights to products owned by or licensed
to any of the Formica legal entities.
The name Formica and the Formica logo are registered
trademarks of The Diller Corporation.
The Company reserves the right to change specifications at any
time without prior notice.
Technical information 93
General information
Composition
Formica
®
laminates consist of layers of specially selected paper
impregnated with thermo-setting synthetic resin and pressed
together under heat and very high pressure.
The surface layer, incorporating decorative patterns and colours,
is impregnated with melamine-based resins to give high
resistance against abrasion, shock and impact, heat, and
discolouration.
The core layers are impregnated with phenolic resins which
make the material strong and flexible.
Sheet sizes
Formica laminates are available in a comprehensive range of
sheet sizes.
Availability depends on grade and surface finish. Please contact
your nearest dealer or our Sales Division for more information.
Weight
As a general guide, Formica laminate weighs about 1.4 kg/m
2
per mm sheet thickness.
Technical information 94
Surface texture
General
Formica
®
laminate comes in a wide range of surface textures and
finishes. Some are available in several different ranges while
others only come in certain versions and patterns.
Choice of surface texture is important for both function and
appearance of the laminate. In general, textured surfaces and
light colours resist abrasion and scratching better than smooth
surfaces and dark colours. We therefore do not recommend
glossy laminates and dark, plane surfaces for use in exposed
working conditions. On the other hand, plane and lightly-textured
surfaces are easier to clean than highly-textured surfaces.
Formica DecoMetal
®
Polished aluminium products have anodised surfaces which are
resistant to oxidation, scratching, discolouration, etc.
The other aluminium products have an epoxy coating, and
copper surfaces are protected with polyurethane varnish.
Some types of fluorescent lighting may produce iridescent
effects on polished surfaces.
Formica
®
Veneer
Formica Veneer is made from real wood veneer; consequently,
slight colour and pattern variation may occur and does not
indicate a product defect. As with natural wood, exposure to
direct sunlight can produce colour change and should be
avoided. Any slight change in colour over time does not indicate
a product defect.
Formica Veneer laminates are available in two polyurethane
surface finishes;
Polyurethane - gloss (PUR); intended for application to dry
interior light duty horizontal or vertical surfaces where design,
appearance, quality, durability, resistance to stain and heat from
ordinary sources are important factors.
Wax (WAX); intended for applications of dry interior light duty
horizontal or vertical surfaces. Similar to above, but with the
surface touch of natural wood.
Technical information
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Description
Horizontal,
general purpose,
Post-forming
Horizontal,
general purpose,
Standard
Vertical use,
'Light duty', Post-forming
Compact,
Standard
Vertical,
general purpose,
Standard
Vertical,
general purpose,
Post-forming
Horizontal,
general purpose,
Fire-resistant
Compact,
Fire-resistant
Vertical,
Fire-resistant,
Post-forming
Post-forming
Grade
HGP
P333
HGS
S333
LTP*
CGS Compact
S3-3
VGS
S232
VGP
P222
HGF
F333
CGF Compact
F3-3
VFP*
FP222
PF*
Performance category
High performance for general, horizontal
use, and vertical applications requiring
especially high performance.
High performance for general use in
horizontal applications and in vertical
applications requiring especially high
performance.
Material with special decorative effects
and details as VGP, but with lower wear-
resistance. For general use in vertical
applications.
Standard grade for general application.
For general use in vertical applications,
and horizontal applications with moderate
wear.
Less high performance than HGP grade,
for general use in vertical applications, and
horizontal applications with moderate
wear. Can be formed with controlled
temperature and bending.
High performance for general, horizontal
use, with fire-resistant grade, and vertical
applications requiring especially high per-
formance.
Fire-resistant grade for Class B1, Class M1
(NFP 92 -5201); BI (DIN 4102-1);
Euroclass B, SITAC Class 1, MK Class A,
NS UT1, IN1
As VGP grade with fire-resistant
properties.
Possible to post-form with a larger radius
than normal, see technical information.
Typical application
Kitchen worktops, restaurant and hotel
tables, heavy-duty doors, wall cladding,
interior walls or fittings in general transport
vehicles where curved parts are required.
Kitchen worktops, restaurant and hotel
tables, heavy-duty doors, wall cladding,
interior walls in general transport vehicles.
Kitchen hatches, wall cladding, etc, where
curved parts are required.
Dividers, wall panels, partitions and
workbenches in laboratories, exterior
wall-cladding, balcony frontages.
Kitchen cabinets, wall cladding, shelves
and partitions.
Kitchen cupboard doors, wall-cladding,
shelves, and partitions where curved
sections are required.
Inner walls and furniture for general
transport vehicles and ships.
Exterior wall cladding, balcony frontages.
Wall cladding for evacuation routes.
Wall claddings, partitions and other areas
where fire resistance is needed.
Kitchen cabinets, wall claddings, etc.
Technical information
The above references state the product classification system given in EN 438.
Fire-resistant materials meet fire requirements specified in European National
Standards, eg Class B1, DIN 4101 Part 1; Class M1, NFP 92-501, SITAC
surface layer Class 1, NS UT1, IN1, MK, Class A.
For further information on fire requirements and certificates, please contact
your local Customer Service Division. Each grade has special properties
adapted to specific applications. Conditions are given in our type-approval
documents.
Grade
All Formica
®
laminates are manufactured to ISO 9001:2000 performance.
NCS Natural Color System
®
© Used under licence, owned by the Scandinavian Colour Institute AB, Stockholm.
The Company retains the right to change specifica