Thermally Fused
Laminate (TFL)
Original Source https://www.compositepanel.org/products/decorative-surfaces/thermally-fused-laminates/
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What is Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL)?
Thermally fused laminate (TFL) decorative panels can be manufactured with enhanced visual and performance characteristics. Surface textures are created with steel press plates that emboss the decorative overlay to heighten the realism of wood grain, stone or abstract designs. Steel press plates can also be used to create or control the gloss level of the surface.
TFL decorative panels have excellent scratch and wear resistance. They are widely used in laminate flooring, office furniture, closet system components, store fixtures and cabinets. It is also an appropriate spec in health care, hospitality, commercial and retail settings. Due to the performance, design flexibility and cost advantages, TFL offers an excellent option for designers and specifiers.
TFL has other distinct advantages. It is both a decorative surface as well as a construction material and easily processed on typical panel processing equipment. As such, it eliminates the need for furniture and cabinet makers to install laminating lines. An important advantage of TFL is matching capabilities with high pressure laminate (HPL) and three-dimensional laminates (3DL). While TFL and HPL materials are produced in different systems, the same décor prints can be used in the production of each, providing for exact matches. TFL and HPL are often specified and used in the production of furniture, cabinets, and fixtures.
How It’s Made
Thermally fused laminate or TFL is made by fusing a resin-impregnated sheet of décor paper directly to a substrate. The décor paper generally weighs between 60 and 130 g/m2 and is the same as the paper used in the production of HPL, making for easy matching across materials. Heat and pressure activate the resin in the saturated décor paper, creating a cross-linked bond with the substrate. This fuses the décor paper to the substrate creating a finished panel ready to be machined. Particleboard and MDF are ideal substrates for TFL because they are consistent, uniform in strength and free of defects.
Attributes
Thermally Fused Laminate decorative panels can be manufactured with enhanced visual and performance characteristics. Surface textures are created with steel press plates that emboss the decorative overlay to heighten the realism of wood grain, stone or abstract designs. Steel press plates can also be used to create or control the gloss level of the surface. TFL panels have excellent scratch and wear resistance.
TFL Panel Usage
TFL Panels are used in the following:
- Laminate Flooring
- Office Furniture
- Closet System Components
- Store Fixtures
- Cabinets
It is also an appropriate spec in healthcare, hospitality, commercial and retail settings. TFL panels typically require a decorative edge treatment and can be specified with or without edge, and with single or opposite-side face treatments.
