LEADING WITH LAMINATES

HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATES ARE EXTERIOR GRADE LAMINATES EXTENSIVELY USED AS A CLADDING MATERIAL AND MORE

- BINDU GOPAL RAO

High Pressure Laminates (HPL) are a superior version of regular laminates. Greater in thickness, it also comes along with a substrate and has numerous applications. Naturally, both vendors and architects are using them in myriad ways in architecture and interiors.

THE CONCEPT

High Pressure Laminates are exterior grade laminates. These are extensively used as a cladding material. Being an engineered product, HPL provides perfection. With manageable attributes, this material is quick and easy to work with.

Apart from cladding, HPL can also be used for fabricating wardrobe and kitchen cabinets. HPL can prove to be a handy and functional material if used smartly. Swapna Bandekar, designer, Studio Five Partners explains, “we hear high-pressure laminate compared to melamine. Technically, melamine is a chemical used in both HPL and low pressure laminates (LPL).

The special consistency and the production process under high pressure gives HPL an outstanding product feature.” A successor of the original plastic laminate, it is produced by pressing thin sheets of paper or resin together. It is a consolidation of 6-8 layers of kraft paper, which are glued together and bonded under high pressure and heat; resulting in a very robust product. The overlay paper reduces abrasion and scratch while the decorative paper provides it with the required visual appeal.