Book Covering Laminate Selection Guide

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1.       Polypropylene (PP), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or Polyolefin?

- All the films we use are flexible and stain resistant.

- PP is more cost effective; no chlorine in the manufacturing of PP so it is more environmentally friendly.

- PVC is softer and more tear resistant. It feels better because of its softness.

- Polyolefin is an improved vinyl material that is more flexible to use. It is a non-yellowing, matt film that removes cleanly leaving no residue behind.

2.      Gloss or Matt?

- Gloss gives a shiny new look to books but can reflect or glare under certain lighting conditions and shows finger print marks.

- Matt gives a non-reflective finish and hides finger prints.

3. Which Caliper (thickness)

- 50 micron is economical, thin and flexible, and covers spines very well.

- 80 - 100 micron thickness is a good all-purpose range that can handle the majority of applications.

- Over 100 micron is for heavy-duty use or to ensure very long lasting protection (i.e. Vistaflex and Filmfix)

- At thicknesses over 100 micron the film becomes semi rigid and unsuitable to use over spines and other round and sharp radii.

4.     Delayed-action adhesive

- This adhesive becomes permanent after several hours. The time is dependant on the temperature and the surface being covered. If the surface is fibrous or 'hairy' the adhesive will bond quicker.

- The benefit of this type of adhesive over a standard permanenet adhesive is that it allows the user the remove the film and re-apply if air bubbles form the first time the laminate is applied.

5.     What Size?

- The variety of widths allows the user to select the least wasteful for the size of the book to be covered.

- Longer lenghts are more conomic for frequent users of a specific width.