What is Cast Polypropylene Film?

Cast polypropylene (PP) engineered film serves as a sustainable film solution that is suitable for wood or MDF furniture or other substrates used for cabinetry and flooring. Cast PP film has several versatile applications:

• Protective or wear layer

• Print layer (decorative layer)

• Barrier layer

• Technical layer

• Backing layer

Why Cast Polypropylene Film?

Manufacturers opt for cast PP laminating film for its ease of printing, lay-flat characteristics, and long-lasting durability. The film is impervious to moisture and conforms to chemical-resistance testing as developed by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) with no staining or discoloration.

Cast PP film is fully recyclable, therefore appealing to both manufacturers and consumers. Custom-engineered PP films are scratch-resistant and can be printed or embossed. They are available in a wide variety of colors, textures, and finishes. Embossed patterns simulate natural textures such as wood or stone and have the added benefit of helping to hide imperfections in substrates. Special UV coatings can be applied for additional durability on both embossed and smooth surfaces.

This versatile material is economical, flexible, and fatigue-resistant, and has properties that make it an excellent choice for a wide range of consumer and commercial applications.

Where is Cast Polypropylene Film Used?

APPLICATIONS

• Commercial and residential

• RV and utility trailer walls and ceilings

• Drawer wrap – hinged

• Ready-to-assemble furniture (RTA)

• Folding backs

• Flat lamination

• Shelving

• Flooring

• Waterproof wall covering

• Moisture-resistant decorative surfaces

• Kitchen and bath cabinet surfaces

Properties and Performance

• Furniture-grade Polypropylene (PP) is a plasticizer-free thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications

• Eliminates the need for a decorative paper layer

• An economical thermoplastic of high clarity, high gloss, and good tensile strength

• Highly durable and scratch-resistant; increased levels of abrasion resistance can be achieved by an additional lacquer layer on top

• Elastic and flexible

• Easy to clean

• Impervious to moisture, as well as grease and oil

• High chemical resistance with no staining or discoloration

• Fully recyclable and an environmentally friendly alternative to PVC

• Can be smooth or embossed, the latter of which simulates natural textures such as wood or stone which helps hide imperfections in substrates

• Special UV coatings add additional durability on both embossed and smooth surfaces

• Decorative textures hide fingerprints, smudges, and substrate imperfections

• Excellent bonding capabilities to various substrates

• Laminate by heat or adhesives

• Natural hinge functionality

Design

• Smooth surface available in a variety of colors and matte or gloss finishes

• Embossed surfaces simulate natural materials such as wood or stone

• Consistent manufacturing processes offers color stability from your first to your last product run

Material Makeup and Manufacturing

• Furniture-grade Polypropylene (PP) is produced via chain-growth polymerization from the monomer propene. Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins and is partially crystalline and non-polar

• Fully recyclable and can be easily reprocessed into many other products for many different applications

• A primer on the back can improve adhesion for certain substrates

• PVC-free

Component Fabrication

• Cast PP Films can easily be laminated / wrapped onto a wide range of substrates used in the furniture and flooring industry, like MDF, honeycomb boards, or plastic and composite core layers

• A lightweight, composite glass fiber reinforced PP sheet with outstanding material strength comparable to steel is available as a substrate for formed components

• Components are created in a continuous or static press, where the surface is bonded to the substrate with a heat-activated adhesive under heat and pressure.

• Compatible with almost all types of adhesives (e.g. water-based polyurethane dispersion or heat-activated adhesives)

Environmental Details

Cast PP laminating films are 100% recyclable, meeting consumer and manufacturer demand as well as regulatory frameworks like the European Green Deal, which requires recyclable mono-material plastic products. Cast PP films extend the life and use of climate-positive substrates like particleboard and MDF.

Cast Polypropylene Film Suppliers

• Profol

• Zhejiang Yuanda

• Shanxi Yingtai

• Hubei Huishi

• UFLEX

• Panverta

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