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Laminating always seems to add that special decorative flare to objects. Is it just the smooth and shiny plastic that appeals to us? Or is there more to the laminating process that sparks our interest? Surely there is something more to a laminated ID card than just the plastic surface. What is it about wrapping something in plastic that makes it special?

Interestingly, a laminate does not need to involve plastic. It is simply meant to define a material comprised of at least two joined layers. In fact, plywood is actually a laminate. In plywood, sheets of wood veneer are stacked and, using heat and pressure, joined with adhesives. In common use, though, lamination refers to sealing a material under a layer of transparent plastic. Laminating, in this sense, weds the plastic to the object being laminated. This makes the object nearly tamperproof, and provides protection from various concerns, including stains and weather.

In manufacturing, laminating can refer to either definition, whether plastic wrapping or the joining of more than one material. Plastic laminates have exceptional strength for their heft and are used in a wide range of applications. Lamination also provides additional benefits, as gears produced from laminated sheets are far quieter than metal gears of the same size.

Laminates find themselves in an extensive range of industries, from marine and aerospace to printing and photography. Manufacturers prefer these materials because they are relatively easy to use, and often require little pressure and minimal curing temperatures to create. Many laminate molds are comparatively easy to construct. In other words, it is not just the shiny plastic that makes the lamination process so unique. Every day we pull out our driver’s license or our credit card, we are just at the tip of the iceberg. We are surrounded by a wide array of laminates, so it is no wonder that the process appeals to us on such a basic level.