How Melamine is Made & Used

Let’s talk about melamine board!

Melamine laminate is a hard resin commonly used as an overlay for building materials like MDF,Particle Board or Plywood. In its most basic form, melamine is an organic compound that when combined with formaldehyde forms a durable thermosetting plastic. This ‘plastic’ is then added to a paper base to form the laminate that covers a variety of materials and household objects.

Melamine for Laminate Furniture

Household & Office Furniture

Floors Made with Melamine Laminate are Durable & Cheap

Flooring

Melamine Cabinets are a Popular Choice

Cabinets

Melamine Whiteboards

Dry Erase Boards

Melamine is Used to Make Dishes

Dinnerware

Melamine vs Laminate

Melamine is a laminate, but not all laminates are melamine. Following? When melamine laminates are manufactured, they’re created by molding a melamine/formaldehyde combo into a durable plastic sheet. This is done by applying a certain amount of pressure-per-square-inch to the laminate. However, the amount of pressure applied changes the classification of the laminate.

Melamine is a Low Pressure Laminate (LPL) because it is made with a pressure of 300-500 pounds-per-square-inch.

High pressure laminate (HPL), also called Formica, is made with over 1400 pounds-per-square-inch of pressure.The Difference Between Melamine and Laminate

What is Melamine Furniture?

Melamine furniture is constructed from a manufactured-wood substrate, like MDF (medium density fiberboard) or plywood, that has been covered in melamine laminate. The melamine resin gives these otherwise lower-quality materials a very durable and attractive finish! This is what makes melamine furniture, like cabinets, office desks, and display counters, so popular! While 100% real wood furniture pieces have their benefits, in many cases using melamine laminated furniture is the most cost effective, lightweight, and convenient choice.

Benefits of Building with Melamine Laminates

  • Durable – scratch & shatter resistant, waterproof
  • Inexpensive – covers inexpensive substrates like MDF or plywood
  • Choice – can be produced in a wide variety of colors & finishes

While the melamine itself is waterproof, if water gets to the particle board underneath, the dampness could cause the melamine to distort. Similarly, while melamine is very durable, if you incorrectly install or assemble a piece of laminate furniture in a way that damages its particle board, it could cause the melamine to chip.

How to choice color!

See Melamine and Laminate products show!