ecoDURA High Pressure Laminate (HPL) is a direct descendant of the original plastic laminate and is considered to be one of the most durable decorative surface materials.
Available with special performance properties including chemical, fire and wear resistance, it’s also inherently hygienic due to the density of its surface and the ‘easy clean’ nature makes it an ideal product in hospital environments.
The panels can be CNC cut to shape, routered and finished with bevels or chamfers to aesthetically please.
The Process
ecoDURA is produced by saturating multiple layers of kraft paper impregnated with a phenolic resin, the composition being around 60-70% paper and about 30-40% thermosetting resins.
The required visible image is digitally printed and placed on top of the kraft paper underneath a UV protection film and clear melamine top layer before pressing.
The phenolic and melamine resins are both thermoset plastics, therefore the curing process involves cross linking the resins so that the paper sheets are converted into a single, rigid laminated sheet. Thermosetting creates strong, irreversible bonds that contribute to its durability. The resulting sandwich is fused together under heat at circa 150ºC and 2500 tons of pressure in the 5-level bed press below.
Each bed can take 2 panels per level of the each of 0.8, 3mm or 6mm and just one panel of each per level for the thicker 10mm and 13mm grades.
Products
The vast majority of our ecoDURA products find their way into way-finding, interpretive panels in the heritage market or cladding.
However, it is also being used in street furniture (10mm & 13mm thickness grades).
….and despite being essentially a ‘pulp’ product, the resin impregnation and thermoforming gives it full impermeability to water and the outside elements – there will be no ingress through the edges and can be used in wet areas….even in aquaria or we have even projects under the sea in the Med……
Special grades of ecoDURA can even be post-formed around curved edges by application of heat and restraint to for the chairs below
Availability
- Maximum size one panel 1200mm x 2700mm
- Thicknesses: 0.8mm, 3mm, 6mm, 10mm & 13mm
- Custom thicknesses available in full panels
- Two sided print option – we are the only company to offer this
- Interior or Exterior grades available
- Gloss or satin/matt finishes
- No minimum for size and quantity
Technical Standards
European Standard EN 438 (European HPL regulations) and ISO 4586 set out the performance characteristics and minimum requirements for HPL.
Furthermore the products physical properties such as accelerated ageing are tested, where ecoDURA offers a 10 year warranty according to ISO 4892 parts 1 & 2.
EN 438 is the most complete and recent standard where ecoDURA meets the requirements of Parts 1 & 2.
Fire resistance is also key, by nature laminates are organic materials which do not ignite easily when exposed to flame or contribute relatively little in the event of a fire so are widely used in the construction and transport industries.
ecoDURA comes with a fire resistance of M2 as standard or as M1 by specification. With respect to ‘Reaction to Fire’ BS EN 13501-2:2007 + A1:2009 – ecoDURA complies with the requirements Classes B, d0, and passes BS 476-6 + A1:1999, (Class 0) plus BS 476-7:1997 (Class 1) for Surface Spread of Flame and Fire Propagation.
You can download a full Technical Specification via the link >>>HERE<<<
Please contact us at info@novadura.com for further information or to discuss your application.
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NovaDura…for your anti graffiti vandal resistant fully recyclable products: +44 (0)1282 867 390