Aqueous Coating Vs Lamination

Nevertheless aq coating is still the most popular choice for print finish options.

Aqueous coating vs lamination.

Aqueous is a clear water based coating that is environmentally friendly. The solvent resistance of aqueous coating is lower than that of uv coating and thermal lamination. When plastic coating is added to any item it becomes tear proof and waterproof since the laminating film encapsulates the item completely by bonding it to both sides. Although aq coating provides several benefits the chances of chemical burning with aqueous coating and uv coating is higher than other finishing such as varnish.

As the number one advantage of aqueous coatings is the cost savings a major deterrent to the use of film lamination is the price. Film lamination is available in several matte and gloss finishes and can even be applied with a special embossed roller that leaves a textured pattern over the laminated sheet. Laminating is the process of applying a film of plastic on the surface of labels. To make the best possible investment in utilizing lamination in a printing shop one would be to have not only a laminator but also a cutting machine.

Polypropylene lamination is the most popular and least expensive laminate available today. Being water based it is best used on papers with a text weight of 80 or heavier so that you do not get curling or wrinkles. Lamination offers good protection but the lamination process requires edge trimming which can increase production costs. High volume production of many packaging applications prohibits the use of thermal lamination because of the expense of the film itself and the slower off line application used to apply the film compared to uv or water based coatings.

Aqueous coating is water based and though it can be a good coating option for paper uv coating offers greater gloss and better protection uv coating vs. Both processes can greatly extend the lifespan and durability of a printed product as well as provide a different feel and texture for the product. As the number one advantage of aqueous coatings is the cost savings a major deterrent to the use of film lamination is the price.