Use and Care Guide

Formica Group Technical Guide | 2
FTB-0824 | Rev 8 | 06/20
FORMICA
®
LAMINATE BY FORMICA GROUP
TECHNICAL DATA
GENERAL PURPOSE GRADE 10 AND POST-FORMING GRADES 12 & 20
ADHESIVES
Contact, semi-rigid (PVAc), or rigid (urea, resorcinol) adhesives may
be used. Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations.
Certain combinations of nish, substrate, and adhesive can cause
telegraphing.
When bonding Formica
®
Brand Laminate sheet (grade 10/ HGS)
to metal substrates using contact adhesive, use Formica
®
Brand
ammable solvent-based #155 or non-ammable solvent-based
#120M contact adhesives. Do not use water-based or SBR types
of contact adhesive when bonding laminate sheets to metal
substrates.
ASSEMBLY
Material, equipment, and workmanship should conform to the
Formica Corporation recommended standard practices, condi-
tions, procedures, and recommendations as specied by ANSI/
NEMA LD3-2005, Architectural Woodwork Quality Standards and
ANSI 161.2-1998 Standards.
Formica
®
Brand Laminate sheets (grade 10, 12, and 20) can be
sawed, drilled, routed, and fabricated using standard carbide
tipped cutting tools.
Holes for screws or bolts should be drilled oversized.
Panel assemblies should be laminated with the appropriate backing
sheet to minimize warpage. Formica
®
Brand backing sheets (grade
91/BKV or 92/BKH) are recommended for less critical applications.
Optimum balancing is obtained by bonding the same surface
laminate on both sides of the assembly with the same adhesive.
Always align sanding marks in the same direction.
All inside corners of cutouts must be radiused as large as possible,
1
⁄8" (3.18mm) minimum, to avoid stress cracking. The edges and
corners should be routed, sanded, or led smooth and free of
chips or nicks. Panels fabricated using metal substrates, which
are more dimensionally stable than wood-based materials, should
be installed in a framing system, which captures the perimeter
of the panel yet allows for the normal dimensional movement of
the laminate. This is to protect the panel edge and prevent edge
lifting or separation from the substrate, which can occur under dry
conditions.
TECHNICAL DATA
Performance compliance of Formica
®
Brand Laminate General
purpose grade 10 and Post-forming grades 12 and 20
ANSI / NEMA STANDARDS PUBLICATION — LD3-
2005
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES LD3 TEST 10/HGS
Appearance 3.1 No ABC Defects
Light Resistance 3.3 Slight
Cleanability 3.4 20 (max.)
Stain Resistance
Reagents 1 - 10
Reagents 11 - 15
3.4 No Eect
Moderate
Boiling Water Resistance 3.5 No Eect
High Temperature Resistance 3.6 Slight
Ball Impact Resistance
- in
- mm
3.8 50 (min.)
1270 (min.)
Radiant Heat Resistance - sec 3.10 125 (min.)
Dimensional Change
Machine Direction - %
Cross Direction - %
3.11 0.50 (max.)
0.90 (max.)
Wear Resistance - cycles 3.13 400 (min.)
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES LD3 TEST 12/HGP 20/VGP
Appearance
3.1
No ABC
Defects
No ABC
Defects
Light Resistance 3.3 Slight Slight
Cleanability 3.4 20 (max.) 20 (max.)
Stain Resistance
Reagents 1 - 10
Reagents 11 - 15
3.4 No Eect
Moderate
No Eect
Moderate
Boiling Water Resistance 3.5 Slight Slight
High Temperature Resistance 3.6 Slight Slight
Ball Impact Resistance
- in
- mm
3.8 30 (min.)
762 (min.)
20 (min.)
508 (min.)
Radiant Heat Resistance - sec 3.10 100 (min.) 80 (min.)
Dimensional Change
Machine Direction - %
Cross Direction - %
3.11 1.1 (max.)
1.4 (max.)
1.1 (max.)
1.4 (max.)
Wear Resistance - cycles 3.13 400 (min.) 400 (min.)
Formability
- in
- mm
3.14
5/8
16
1/2
12
Blister Resistance - sec 3.15 55 40