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Pearlescence® high-pressure decorative laminates are a series of solid color, abstract, metallic patterns and woodgrain prints which feature inks containing pearlescent particles to create a dramatic visual effect when exposed to light. First introduced in 1984, Lamin-Art was the first high-pressure decorative laminate manufacturer to utilize these pearlescent particles in an ink delivery system for the production of printed decorative paper used in the manufacture of high-pressure laminate. Today, although Lamin-Art owns the trademark on the term Pearlescence, many high-pressure decorative laminate manufacturers (Formica, Wilsonart, Pionite, etc.) offer similar products.

Pearl-lustre Pigments
Pearl-lustre pigments manufactured by Merck KGaA are composed of inert, nontoxic, inorganic oxides which have excellent heat and chemical resistance, light fastness, and are non-conducting and non-arcing. Pearl-lustre pigments are flat platelets and have irregular shapes. Unlike conventional pigments and dyes, where color is derived from selective absorption and reflection of certain light waves, the colors and iridescence obtained with pearl-lustre pigments are produced by the light interference from the platelets. The result is an effect similar to the color effect produced by mother-of-pearl: silver white, iridescent gold, and metallic luster effects. .

Printing Pearlescent Decorative Papers
Pearlescence® designs are produced by the Rotogravure printing method using specialty inks. First, the dried pearl-lustre pigments are disbursed into a transparent ink vehicle formula in preparation for printing. Because the pearlescent particles are larger than those used in conventional printing inks, a special knurled print cylinder has to be etched in order to accommodate the particle size. Printing speed, thicker ink deposits, drying time, and temperatures also need to be adjusted in order to maintain proper paper stock porosity.

Manufacturing Pearlescence High-Pressure Laminates
Pearlescence high-pressure decorative laminates are manufactured by laminating phenolic resin-impregnated kraft paper with melamine resin-impregnated decorative sheets. In order to allow full reflection and refraction of light, the pearlescent decorative papers are impregnated with less melamine resin that is commonly used in the manufacture of high-pressure decorative laminate. The impregnated decorative and kraft papers stratify during the lamination process which is conducted under a minimum pressure of 1,000 psi (2,068 kPa) and at a temperature of 300ºF (149ºC). .

Technical Characteristics of Pearlescence
By reducing the amount of melamine resin in the pearlescent decorative sheets used to manufacture Pearlescence laminates, the wear resistance of these laminates is impacted. Pearlescence high-pressure decorative laminates will typically not meet the abrasion and scratch resistance standards as determined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the governing body which sets performance standards for the high-pressure laminate industry. In order to meet minimum NEMA standards for scratch and abrasion, a laminate should achieve a minimum of 400 cycles in a Taber Abrasion test without showing signs of wear to the printed decorative paper. Pearlescence laminates only achieve between 100 and 300 cycles. As a result, they are commonly recommended only for use as a vertical surfacing material where wear resistance is less of a concern.