Direct Heating in Laminate Plastic Curing

Laminate plastic was first invented to cover electrical parts because it is moisture and heat resistant,

lightweight and provides good insulation. Since its conception in the early 1900’s, laminate plastic has

been recognized for being uniform, reliable, and for its ability to withstand tough conditions.

Over the years it was discovered that by adding decorative paper, laminates could be made to look like

those decorative patterns. As the colors and designs of laminate expanded, so did its applications and

markets. As facilities began to manufacture plastic laminates that resembled wood, marble, slate, and

other natural products people began to replace the more expensive natural materials with the less

expensive laminate plastic.

Decorative laminate plastic, which is used to surface counter tops and furniture, is produced in the

following 5 steps:

1. Between 7 and 18 strips of paper are first soaked with resin. These sheets of paper will make up

the bottom layers.

2. A layer of translucent paper is run through resin. This will be the top layer, which will protect the

decorative layer.

3. A sheet of decorative paper is run through resin. This layer will go on top of the 7-18 pieces that

make up the bottom layer, but will show through the transparent top layer.

4. The sheets are then put into a drying chamber separately and then they are stacked in layers.

5. All 3 layers are then cured via a hydraulic press. The press sandwiches the 3 layers together,

while applying heat. The weight and force of the press is enough to ensure water molecules are

forced out of the papers. The heat is high enough to ensure that the resin covered papers attach

to each other. The end result is a single dry, laminated sheet.

Depending on the size and design of the process, direct fired air heaters may be used as the source of

heat for the system. Direct fired air heaters are cost effective heating solutions used where the by-

products of combustion can be present in the air stream. Because the raw materials used to make

laminate plastic are not chemically sensitive, direct heaters can be used; in other words, the by-products

of combustion will not change any properties of the materials used to manufacture laminate plastics.

For more information on direct fired air heaters, please call Stelter & Brinck at 513-367-9300 or visit

http://www.stelterbrinck.com/process-air-heaters.htm

Key words: Stelter, brinck, combustion, direct fired air heater, laminate, plastic, curing, drying chamber,

air heater: direct fired