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lamination” should refer to lamination with two layers of 3-mil film. If you are buying or
selling lamination film or lamination service, please make sure both parties understand
the film descriptions being used.
There is a huge variety of thermal laminating films available to suit many different kinds
of application. Here are some of the more commonly used “special” film types or film
additives:
• Film with low-melt adhesives, also known as co-polymer films; these often have
better clarity and are less likely to curl or ripple.
• Matte films to eliminate glare or to accept printing or accept printing or writing; many
suppliers offer films with glossy and matte (non-glare) finishes.
Rolls of film may be purchased in different widths. The size of the laminator is the only
limitation to the width of the film rolls you can use. The Educator can use 4, 12, 18, or
25 inch rolls. Make sure the upper and lower roll widths are the same, and are aligned
with each other.
Rolls are also produced with different lengths of film on a roll (250’, 500’, 1000’). The
Educator will easily accommodate film rolls up to 6” diameter.
When installing film, always center the rolls if film on the supply roll mandrels so the
core grippers engage the cardboard core. Look for the score marks around the supply rill
mandrels to aid in aligning the top and bottom rolls.
We recommend 3-mil film for the most common applications, including posters, signs or
instructional aids. The 3-mil film provides better protection, more rigidity, and a more
lustrous appearance than 1.5-mil film. Five mil film is suggested for those applications
that need the most protection and rigidity.
Lamination with 1.5-mil film can sometimes present problems because the film is so thin
it loses heat easily. It sounds backwards, but 1.5-mil film has to be run at a higher
temperature than a 3-mil film with the same adhesive. The higher temperature
compensates for the faster rate of heat loss during lamination. A standard 3-mil film is
applied at 280°F, while a standard 1.5-mil film must be applied at 310°F. Even when
applied at 310°F, a 1.5-mil film is still more likely to delaminate later.
If the item being laminated is fairly thick, it will pull heat from the film. This will lower
the temperature of the 1.5-mil film and prevent it from sticking properly. When
laminating thick items with standard 1.5-mil film, it may be necessary to raise the
temperature to 330°F or 340°F. Do not use any higher temperature for any film than is
needed to get an acceptable degree of adhesion, as measured by an X-test. Remember
there are low-temperature films that should run at much lower temperatures than those
cited in this example. (see the chart on film operating temperatures.)
Rolls of film are sometimes spliced. Most film suppliers will mark a splice with colored
tape. This way, you can see the splice as a “dash” of color on either end of the roll. If