Products
Stevens decorative panels are a thermoset melamine resin-impregnated web, permanently pressure bonded and thermally fused to a cellulosic substrate, such as particleboard, medium density fiberboard or other wood-based core. Panels are available with decorative faces on one or both sides.
To appreciate the distinction between Stevens thermoset decorative panels and high pressure laminates it is necessary to understand the manufacturing processes.
The melamine used in making Stevens panels exist in two different forms before becoming the hard, scratch-resistant, stain-resistant finish you find on the finished product. The resins begin as clear, sticky liquids through which the special decorative paper is passed. While submerged in the liquid resin, the paper is flexed and bent to open up the fibers, allowing the resin to thoroughly saturate the paper. The resin-saturated paper is then drawn through a dryer where it is heated, dried and cooled (Step 1)
During the next step, the resin-saturated paper is laid over a particleboard, medium density fiberboard, or other wood-based substrate and fed into a press where it is subjected to high temperature and pressure. (Step 2) The heat and pressure cause two reactions in the melamine resin. First, it transforms back into a liquid state and penetrates the fibers of the substrate. Second, the thermofusing process is completed, resulting in a hard and durable surface that will no longer melt.
In this final state, the decorative surface and substrate are permanently fused together, eliminating the possibility of delamination. Glue-on overlays such as H.P. Laminate on other products, conversely, are separated from the substrate by a layer of adhesive. Over time, the adhesive can dry or deteriorate and delamination can occur.
Product Options:
Panel Size:
Stevens panels are typically manufactured in widths of four or five feet and in lengths of six to twelve feet. Panels also can be ordered cut to size.
Thickness:
Panels are manufactured in a wide range of thickness, from 1/4 to 1 1/4 inch or from 6 to 32 millimeters. Some custom sizes are available.
Substrate:
Stevens panel substrates include particleboard, medium density fiberboard and plywood. Stevens core substrates meet or exceed A.N.S.I. Standards of Performance. Quality auditing programs evaluate the quality of core.
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Call: 217.540.3100
StevensWood
704 W. Main
Teutopolis, IL 62467
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