Röhm: Films for excellent UV and weather resistance of HPL panels

First impressions are crucial: The look of a building facade has a significant impact on how the institutions and companies within the building are perceived – particularly when it comes to public buildings and office blocks. Faded colors and damaged areas are not a great advertisement. For facade cladding made from high-pressure laminate (HPL) panels, the quality of the top layer is therefore critical: It must be permanently weather-resistant and must never delaminate from the panel, as this can ruin the appearance of the facade.

PLEXIGLAS® and EUROPLEX® films for high-quality HPL panels

HPL sheets with a protective layer of PLEXIGLAS® and EUROPLEX® special films from Röhm. © Alim Yakobov / shutterstock.com

Röhm GmbH has been collaborating with manufacturers of HPL panels for over 20 years to develop durable protective films for indoor and outdoor applications under the PLEXIGLAS® and EUROPLEX® brands. For instance, PLEXIGLAS® Film 99836, a universal film against UV radiation, is suitable for HPL panels used for facade cladding. This film absorbs over 99 percent of natural UV radiation and displays excellent durability even after long-term weather exposure in outdoor applications.
Resistant to UV and weather influences in all climate zones

“PLEXIGLAS® Film 99836 and EUROPLEX® Film HC 99716 have been established weather protection solutions for HPL facade panels for many years and have proven themselves in all climate zones around the world. Even in hot regions with very high humidity or areas with extreme temperature fluctuations, they remain firmly attached to the panels,” says Ghirmay Seyoum, Technical Manager in the Films product segment at Röhm Acrylic Products. “In addition, the highly transparent films retain their brilliance even when subjected to intense solar radiation, protects the color layer of the HPL panels against yellowing and therefore guarantee the permanent color stability of the facade cladding.”

Chemical bonding prevents delamination

PLEXIGLAS® Film 99836 and EUROPLEX® Film HC 99716 and HC 0F700 have a standard thickness of 50 μm and are sold in widths of up to 2,800 mm. 75 μm and 90 μm thicknesses are also available. The film is applied to the HPL panel during the production process. Manufacturers do not need an additional plant, process steps or adhesives for this. The polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based film, which was coextruded with a bonding agent, undergoes a chemical bonding process with the melamine resin-soaked decorative paper on the HPL panel. This produces an inseparable covalent bond, which provides significantly improved adhesion and weather resistance compared to a physical bond. “Practical tests have confirmed its durability without any visible clouding or delamination,” Seyoum emphasizes. These properties ensure that the special films from Röhm contribute to a well-maintained appearance of facades and other outdoor HPL applications.

Latest release - scratch-resistant EUROPLEX® HC films

EUROPLEX® Film HC 0F700 and HC 0F701 are transparent, coextruded PMMA films with weather-resistant and scratch-resistant properties. They were developed as state-of-the-art UV protection and surface coatings for thermosetting materials, such as high-pressure laminate panels. HPL sheets protected by EUROPLEX® HC Film 0F701 have a surface hardness of level 5 as per EN 438-2.25:2016.