How it is Made
Laminate flooring is made up of three layers:
- Decorative paper and overlay in melamine resin
- Core layer made of HDF, MDF or particleboard
- Stabilizing layer made of special paper
The decorative paper is what gives the laminate flooring its
individual appearance. There are a wide range of innovative and
highly authentic wood reproduction decorative coverings, but the
large variety of interesting reproduction tile designs and fantasy
decorative coverings should not be forgotten either. The wear layer
is provided by the melamine resin, a highly wear resistant material
that makes laminate flooring so hard wearing.
The core of the laminate floor is provided by the core layer.
As its name suggests, this supports the decorative paper and the
overlay, and of course the people who later walk on the floor. The
core layer is made of either HDF (High Density Fibreboard), MDF
(Medium Density Fibreboard) or particleboard. A variety of other
different papers can also be inserted between the core layer and the
decorative paper, e.g. a footstep sound insulation layer.
The stabilizing layer makes up the bottom layer of laminate
flooring and is what gives the floor its stability.
Laminate flooring is produced in board form. The production
process involves the individual layers in the laminate floor being
pressed together under high pressure and at high temperature. There
are two different production processes currently in use: DPL
(Direct Pressure Laminate) and HPL (High Pressure Laminate).
DPL
In the direct-pressure laminate process the decorative covering
layer and stabilizing layer are pressed together onto the core layer.
Composition of a direct-pressure laminate floor (DPL)
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- Overlay (wear layer)
- Decorative paper
- Core layer
- Stabilizing layer
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HPL
In the high-pressure laminate process, on the other hand, the decorative paper and overlay are pressed onto special high-strength paper first. Only in a second stage is this so-called high-pressure laminate glued to the core layer.
Composition of a HPL Laminate floor
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- HPL layer
- Core layer
- Stabilizing layer
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