Plastic Lamination Process

PLASTIC LAMINATION PROCESS

It is done by the application of pressure and heat. It consists of layers such as paper, cellulose, glass fiber etc. Synthetic resins are used as binders. The thermoplastics are bonded by the process of lamination. The lamination process is classified into two categories:

1. High pressure laminates

2. Low pressure laminates.

In high-pressure laminates, the pressure applied is up to 7MPa and the temperature is about 150°C. In low pressure laminates, the pressure requirement is very less when compared to high pressure laminates. Materials such as asbestos, cotton and fibres are fabricated by this process. The low-pressure laminates are also called "reinforced plastics".

Figure 5.15 shows the lamination process in which the paper and glass are immersed in the resin solution using rollers and then resin mixed plastics are dried in the drying oven. The dried plastics are cut in the cutting section. After cutting, it will be pressed by the press.

The stages involved in lamination are:

1. Saturation of the base with the resin solution.

2. Wet drying

3. Size cutting

4. Pressing

The laminated plastics are used in electrical and electronic components and also in mechanical devices. In furniture industry, the decorative laminations are used.

The reinforced plastics have the characteristics of:

1. Elastic stability

2. Less weight

The reinforced plastics are used in:

1. Making thin sheet

2. Making aircraft

3. Making horns

4. Making storage bins.