Laminates
  • Laminates are composite materials in which two or more layers of material are bonded together.
  • The strengths in doing this is the combination of the material's Strength or surface properties.

Common applications

  • Laminated glass
    • This is two pieces of glass bonded together with a layer of transparent vinyl in between.
    • It is manufactured by making the sandwhich and then heating it to above 100 degrees under high pressure
      • The high pressure removes any air bubbles that may form.
      • Afterwards it is slowly cooled to prevent cracking.
    • This is done for additional strength and to prevent glass from shattering.
      • It does not shatter as the vinyl holds the pieces of glass together, and will form a "spiderweb" cracking effect.
    • It is commonly used in car windshields and windows as "safety glass."
      • Also, the laminated glass insulates noise levels up to 15%, making it good for this application.
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  • Plywood
    • This is made from an odd number of thin slices of timber are glued so that each slice's grainflow is perpendicular to the one below it.
    • This is done to overcome timber's weaknesses due to its directional properties.
    • This is commonly used for cheap applications of timber, such as in formwork.
    • An alternate version is a board made from ground woodchip pulp known as a fibreboard
      • It is easier to shape and has superior sound insulating properties.
  • Formica
    • This is a laminate of several layers of paper and melamine formaldehyde resin.
    • Melamine formaldehyde is a thermosetting plastic that is relatively heat resistant
      • However it cannot be used in microwaves as the radiation breaks it apart.
    • Its lamination with paper makes its surface smooth and easy to clean.
    • The result is a plastic with a hard, durable surface.
    • As a result, most use it in tables, floorboards and other furniture surfaces.
  • Bi-Metallic Strips
    • These are strips consisted of two metals with different thermal expansion properties.
    • This means that, as it is heated, it will deflect.
    • As a result, it is a good safety precaution as a fuse in protection circuits and thermostats.