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laminate failure photos?
- Thread starter Marlene
- Start date
DerbyCitySignGuy
New Member
Is this what you're looking for?
bigben
Not a newbie
Damn! I've never saw that in 10+ years.
DerbyCitySignGuy
New Member
Neither had I! It turns out we got a bad batch of laminate from MACtac. There was virtually no UV protection and that sign was in the sun for most of the day. If I recall, that happened in about six months.
humble sign co
New Member
We did't make this so can't say what laminate was used. Its about 5 years ago. I never could figure it out.
Attachments
bob
It's better to have two hands than one glove.
While I have no photos of malfesant laminate, in this area at ~5,000' elevation the failures are legion. A quick drive around town will show many examples. I've had a few myself using Oracal 290 which is supposed to be a premium laminate. After 5-6 +- years a number of jobs laminated with 290 have browned out.
I no longer laminate anything unless the client throws a weapons grade temper tantrum. I clear coat everything with Clear Shield. It has far better UV protection. It's reasonably tough but not as tough as a vinyl laminate. Case in point is my own truck. ~7 years ago I covered the tailgate with a panel and put three panels on the hood. Same material, prints on 3M180mc metallic silver. The tailgate panel was laminated with Oracal 290 and the hood panels were clear coated with Clear Shield Original Formula [now Clear Shield Classic]. The tailgate started to deteriorate about 18 months ago to the point where I removed the panel as it was more of a condemnation than an advertisement. The hood looks just like the day I put it on.
I no longer laminate anything unless the client throws a weapons grade temper tantrum. I clear coat everything with Clear Shield. It has far better UV protection. It's reasonably tough but not as tough as a vinyl laminate. Case in point is my own truck. ~7 years ago I covered the tailgate with a panel and put three panels on the hood. Same material, prints on 3M180mc metallic silver. The tailgate panel was laminated with Oracal 290 and the hood panels were clear coated with Clear Shield Original Formula [now Clear Shield Classic]. The tailgate started to deteriorate about 18 months ago to the point where I removed the panel as it was more of a condemnation than an advertisement. The hood looks just like the day I put it on.
chester215
Just call me Chester.
Cheap Lam can also move around. This is a 4x8 after about a year of exposure.
DerbyCitySignGuy
New Member
Yes. The dark areas are UV damage. Not outgassing is a different beast altogether and causes different issues.
[Edit: I have heard that the evaporation of the solvents can react with the adhesives on the laminate and cause the same kind of damage. I'm not a chemist, so I can't say for sure, but that's just what I've been told.]
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DerbyCitySignGuy
New Member
bob
It's better to have two hands than one glove.
It looks pretty much the same as when you do. Outgassing is a myth the best use of which is to scare small children into going to bed.It's also a handy scapegoat on which to blame a lot of operator error.
DerbyCitySignGuy
New Member
Yes, definitely take Bob's word for it over engineers at companies like 3M.
One of the main things you'll notice from outgassing is adhesion issues.
One of the main things you'll notice from outgassing is adhesion issues.
bob
It's better to have two hands than one glove.
Ah the revealed word from the great white fathers at 3M. That settles it eh? Solvent dries via evaporation in minutes if not seconds. That being the the case, from whence comes the gas that scares people? Now then, once the ink has dried there remains certain structural changes in printed vinyl that tends to make it a bit more laterally unstable. In other words it can be a bit rubbery for a while. That has little or nothing to do with the evaporative drying of the ink.
My own experience is that there is little difference in dealing with a print straight out of the printer or letting it hang around for a while. The majority of the laminate failures being discussed here have to do with UV damage over time. What that might have to do with the legend of outgassing bog only knows.