Laminates meet design challenges.

Laminate choices range from the tried-and-true shades and colors to the out-of-the-ordinary textures and patterns.

Come up with nearly any design need and you can probably find a laminate to fit it.

While there have always been a myriad of decorative overlay choices on the market, designers are seeking more unusual options. "Designers are increasingly seeking textured decorative laminates with out-of-the-ordinary appearances," said Randy Knox of The October Co. In answering the call, manufacturers have introduced a variety of overlays ranging from metal laminates with abstract designs to nature-inspired laminates, featuring fossil-like creatures and spiders in "earthy" green and brown backgrounds.

Consumers are also demanding unusual surface finishes on their laminates. High-gloss laminates with UV topcoats are being requested, says Lori Jones, marketing specialist at Reneer Films, because of their scratch- and burn-resistance. The protective coat also helps the films during machining, she said, and they are less likely to get damaged on the laminating line or when being routed.

Pearlescent finishes are also in demand, covering nearly any laminate from solids to patterns. "Pearlescents are popular because they offer an affordable alternative in an exciting design. Flecks of metallic texture are highlighted by lights and shadows that create an illusion of dimension to the laminate," said Mike Williams, president of LPI.

The following is a review of some of the laminating materials available. For more information, circle the corresponding number on the Reader's Service Card or consult the W&WP 1994 Red Book Buyer's Guide.

Decorative Laminates

Rhinolam laminate from Artistic Office Products is a product of natural ingredients consisting mostly of wood flour and cork. The material features a slight "give" which makes it a good writing surface, the company says, and the recovery of indentations gives it a smooth surface. More than a dozen soft colors are available.

Reneer Films offers Polyester High Gloss, a scratch- and mar-resistant overlay designed for demanding horizontal surfacing. It begins with a solid or printed vinyl laminate designed to minimize telegraphing of board and glue line imperfections, the company says. A clear polyester film is then added to provide deep gloss comparable to wet finishes. The laminate is finished with a durable UV cured topcoat to provide long lasting beauty, the company says.

Inspired by the basic colors of soil and rock, Brune Slate is one of the 22 new Wilsonart decorative laminates joining the Design Group I line in 1994. A taupe stone, Brune Slate marks the transition from traditional stones to rougher, more "earthy" looks, the company says. Brune Slate, and all new Design Group I laminates, feature the new #60 Matte Finish -- a uniform, finely textured finish which provides consistent gloss level readings and slightly improved scuff resistance.

Laminart Inc. recently introduced 21 new decorative laminates including 15 new colors grouped into three complementary color families: Green, Terracotta and Plum Berry. The company says these new colors offer heavier saturation (higher chroma) levels. A new "Silk" finish and six new Pearlescence patterns were also added, including four metallic prints (Bronze Aurora, Astral Aurora, Fero and Zinctone) and Golden and Natural Harewood.

Abet Laminati offers a new line of silk-screen designs, Decori Serigrafia 93. The designs feature patterns of complementary color combinations ranging from peach and grey to sandy and marine blue. Along with the pastel-soaked colors, the line features nature-inspired swirls, creatures and habitats.

Kurz Hastings offers Touchwood Tranferfinish foils in woodgrains, marbles and stones and contemporary faux designs. The foils are also available in a wide range of solid colors, clear, tinted and semi-transparent topcoats, metallic and pearlescent pigments for special effects and sheens ranging from matte to glossy.

CFC International offers a new "Fast Foils" next-day shipment program, designed to deliver high-volume hot stamp foils to customers within 24 hours. All foils in the new program are shipped as 24-in. master rolls or as cut rolls in full master roll multiples. Master rolls are available for next day shipment in 400-ft and 1,000-ft lengths. Orders are shipped from an inventory of metallized, pigmented and patterned foils for plastics and specialty graphics applications.

FormWood Industries says its NBL (No Black Lines) laminates elminate the black lines associated with phenolic backed laminates. Its double veneer thickness prevents telegraphing of substrate imperfections, the company says.

Avery Decorative Films Div. offers a brochure which describes application and troubleshooting tips, profile edge decorations and application equipment. Applications include: end caps, raised panel doors, shaped edges, shelving and drawer slides.

CHIYO Foil "UV" gives a brilliant impression thorough high-gloss, formaldehyde-free, UV-curing lacquer with optimal resistance against cleansing agents, Chiyoda America says. Chemical embossing is possible and the foil is overcoatable. Further resisting all kinds of cleansing agents, CHIYO-foil "CE plus" can be combined with low formaldehyde AC-lacquer, formaldehyde-free polyester lacquer and formaldeyde-free base papers, according to the company. The "CE plus" yields a new, chemial embossing effect.

Samples of industrial and decorative surface enhancement overlays are provided in a sample box from Dyno Overlays Inc. More than 20 Dynopreg overlays bonded to various substrates come in the sturdy vinyl container. Examples include paint base overlays, overlays for multiple use concrete forms, and decorative overlays for cabinets. Dynopreg overlays permit manufacturers to add value to panel products by upgrading surface characteristics to improve end use performance.

Formica Corp. offers the post-formable Color Portfolio line of laminates. The colors range from tinted whites to an expanded neutral pallete, to rich chromatics and to deep, blackened tones.

The Nevamar Div. of International Paper has introduced two new color additions to its Essence decorative laminate pattern. The additions include Honeytone and Ivory, The company says the new colors were chosen to address the pigmented neutrals in the interior palettes such as the mixtures of whites and off-whites.

Oberflex Inc. offers Oberflex, a multi-layer laminate with a decorative face made exclusively of natural woods. The real wood veneer is backed with brown paper soaked in phenolic resin for easier fabrication. The exposed face has high-pressure melamine for protection and simplified maintenance.

Riken offers a variety of films including TN Sheets which are PVC sheets suited for 3-D profiles when wrapping routed MDF boards with a membrane press. They are available in high-gloss and matte finishes. All are produced with a primer coating on the film's reverse side to facilitate a strong adhesion during pressing. Standard film dimensions are 0.3mm to 1mm thick and 950mm to 1,300mm wide.

A new Pearlescent product line is available from Panelyte/LPI. Featuring a gloss or texture finish, the new "pearl" designs are available in wood grains or solids. Applications for this new line include residential furniture, medical and professional casegoods, store fixtures and cabinetry.

American Renolit Corp. offers 3-D films for embossed surfaces and are said to be resistant to humidity, waterstream and aging. The company says they come with a primer on the back for all regular glue systems. A high thermo and embossing fastness permits the production with high processing temperatures, according to the company. A variety of woodgrains, colors and patterns are available.

The October Co.'s Vortex collection is a line of decorative laminates with abstract patterns etched into aluminum, copper and brass. The company says these unique patterns present a variety of distinctive appearances for furniture, casegoods, display cases, exhibits, doors and drawer fronts, wall and ceiling panels, and decorative columns.

"Swedorit" resin films from Casco Nobel are easy care, durable surfaces for modern decors. Available in shades and woodgrains, their texture and gloss variations for melamine surfaces can be produced to coincide with the latest ideas in furniture design. "Swedorit" films are available in either sheets or rolls.

Pioneer Plastics offers a wide variety of laminates. Woodgrains include oaks, rainwood, mahogany and more. Stones include marble, granite, pavia, slate, greystone, marmor and travertine.

Interprint offers INTERlay, a printed decorative inlay for plastic laminators. INTERlay is a transparent overlay paper on which a negative image or window of any inlay design is produced by printing the field that surrounds it. When laminated, the pattern or color of the background sheet fills the window of the overlay, producing a perfect inlay impression.