LAMINATING TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________
DECAL:
An image that has been laminated on top (either heat-activated or
pressure-sensitive) with an adhesive backing.
ENCAPSULATING:
Completely sealing an image between two heat-activated films.
FILM:
A synonym for laminate. The clear material used in the laminating
and encapsulating processes.
HEAT-ACTIVATED FILMS:
Films with a dry adhesive that is activated when heat is applied.
Once applied to an image the adhesive forms a strong bond locking
the laminate and the image together.
IN-FEED:
The side of the laminator from which images are fed.
LEADER BOARD:
A piece of thin foam board (about 4’ x 2”) used to push films into the
nip. Also used for mounting or pre-coating boards to prevent
adhesive from getting onto the rollers and sealing edges.
MIL:
Refers to the thickness of the laminate/film.
MOUNTING:
Applying an image onto some kind of foam board or substrate.
NIP:
The spot where the top and bottom rollers meet.
OUT-FEED:
The side of the laminator from which completed images emerge.
PRE-COATING:
The process of coating a substrate with an adhesive mounting film
onto which an image can be mounted.
PRESS:
The amount of force in distance put on anything that passes
between the top and bottom rollers. Setting the shim wheel
adjustment for the top roller at .100” and running an image .125”
thick through puts a .025” press on the image.
PRESSURE-SENSITIVE FILMS:
Films with a wet adhesive which forms a bond between the
protective laminate and the surface of the image being laminated.
Used primarily for fast mounting applications and recommended for
heat-sensitive thermal and photographic prints.
RELEASE LINER:
The backing on a pressure
-sensitive laminate or mounting
adhesive. After peeling the release liner off, the adhesive layer
becomes exposed.
SLED (CARRIER BOARD):
A piece of smooth, non-crushable board (preferably Masonite)
coated with a mounting adhesive and leaving the release liner on to
provide the necessary non-stick surface. A piece of foam board can
also be used, but it will not have the longevity of the Masonite board.
Sleds are used when laminating one side of an image only.
SUBSTRATE:
The material to which an image is mounted or affixed.