Interior decorative wall panels are materials used to cover and decorate the surface of walls, beautify and protect the walls, and not only enhance the visual effect of the interior space, but also have functions such as sound insulation, heat preservation, and moisture resistance.
These wall panels usually use various types of substrates as the core layer and then shape various finishing effects on the surface to form a unique appearance. These core layers include density boards, particle boards, European pine boards, multi-layer boards, ecological boards, solid wood boards, etc.
There are 5 common finishes for wall panels, such as melamine finish, paint, real wood veneer, blister (molded), and PET film. Each finish has its characteristics.
Melamine-facing paper is an adhesive paper made by impregnating amino resin (such as melamine formaldehyde resin, or urea-formaldehyde resin) and drying to a certain degree. This facing paper is bonded to each other or to the artificial board substrate by hot pressing to make a melamine facing the board.
Advantages of Melamine Finish
This type of facing paper is usually less expensive and comes in a variety of colors to create a variety of realistic finishing effects, such as simulated wood grain, marble texture, etc.
Disadvantages of Melamine Finishes
The main disadvantages of melamine-facing paper are low grade, easy edge collapse, obvious glue marks, fewer colors, inability to emboss, and only straight edges.
Paint treatment is a surface decoration method processed by a multi-pass spraying process, usually used on the surface of wood products or furniture. It sprays the paint onto the surface of the substrate and then cures it at high temperatures to form a smooth and solid surface.
Advantages of Paint Finishes
Paint finishing is a high-temperature spraying technology that can form a hard and smooth coating on the surface of an object, which has many significant advantages.
Paint finishing can make the surface of an object present different colors and glossiness, which can increase the beauty of the object and enhance its value and use experience.
Secondly, since paint can form a dense coating, it can effectively prevent the surface of the object from being corroded by chemicals such as air, water, acid, and alkali, thereby extending the service life of the object.
In addition, the coating formed by paint is high in hardness and can effectively resist damage caused by external factors such as friction and scratches.
Disadvantages of Paint Finishes
The production process of baking varnish is high-end, but it requires a lot of manpower, material, and financial resources, which increases the production cost and also affects its promotion and application scope.
Secondly, the production and use of baking varnish will produce pollution and harmful substances, which will cause harm to the environment in serious cases.
In addition, when scratches or wear appear on the surface of the baking varnish coating, it needs to be repaired by re-baking, and the maintenance cost is high.
The wood veneer finish is a kind of decorative material that is cut into thin slices, processed by special technology, and pasted on the surface of furniture. This material not only retains the texture and color of solid wood but also has a high decorative effect and practicality.
The production process of wood veneer finish includes cutting logs into thin wood slices of 0.1mm~1.0mm, soaking, drying, and other processes, and then applying glue, and pasting it on the furniture substrate under the action of a high-temperature hot press.
Advantages of wood veneer finish
Wood veneer finishes can imitate various kinds of wood in appearance, have high aesthetics, and can improve the quality of furniture, decorations, and other commodities.
Compared with other woods, wood veneer finish is relatively inexpensive, which makes it widely used in some low-end furniture and decoration markets.
Secondly, the production process of wood veneer finish is relatively simple, and it can flexibly fit the needs of various shapes and sizes, which is a significant advantage in some personalized and customized markets.
Wood veneer finish also has some other advantages, such as less environmental impact, not easy to crack or deform due to changes in temperature and humidity, etc.
In addition, the surface processing of wood veneer finish is also relatively simple.
Disadvantages of wood veneer finish
After long-term use, wood veneer finishes may lose their original color and texture due to wear, stains, moisture, etc., and require regular maintenance and care.
Some inferior wood veneer finishes may contain excessive formaldehyde, posing a potential risk to the environment and human health.
Secondly, during long-term use, wood veneer finishes may need to be repaired or replaced due to problems such as wood aging and cracking, which will increase certain use costs and uncertainties.
In addition, wood veneer finishes are easily affected by the environment, such as changes in temperature and humidity, which can easily cause the veneer to crack.
On the other hand, wood veneer finishes are prone to fall off after being hit, exposing the inner core, and thus affecting their decorative effect.
The blister (molded) finish is a veneer material formed by pressing the PVC film on the surface of the substrate at high temperatures. This veneer material is often used in whole-house custom furniture. It can imitate various wood grains, skin feel, and other effects, and it is cheap. It is one of the most used veneer materials in whole-house customization.
This process can make the PVC film fit tightly on the surface of the substrate to form a smooth and uniform veneer effect.
Advantages of Blister (molded) finish
The blister finish has good stability and durability, is not easy to crack or deform, and can maintain the shape and structure of the board.
Its surface has been specially treated to be scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and not easy to fade, maintaining the beauty and durability of the board.
Secondly, its color and wood grain effect are very realistic, and the monochrome color is pure and bright, which can add beauty and fashion to the kitchen or home environment.
In addition, the seamless PVC film compression molding process is adopted, and no edge sealing is required, which avoids the problem of degumming and increases the convenience and durability of use.
On the other hand, the surface of the blister finish is smooth and easy to clean, no special maintenance measures are required, and daily maintenance is simple and convenient.
Disadvantages of Blister (molded) finish
The blister surface has good light stability, but it is not UV-resistant and is prone to fading or aging when exposed to sunlight for a long time.
Secondly, it is not resistant to strong alkalis, oxidizing acids, and certain organic solvents and may be corroded by these substances. Long-term contact with water is prone to hydrolysis cracking, poor fatigue resistance, and stress cracking may occur.
In addition, the blister surface has poor solvent resistance and wear resistance, and resin solvents should be avoided when cleaning. It is also sensitive to heat and easily damaged at high temperatures.
PET finish is an environmentally friendly decorative material made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material, commonly used on furniture and cabinet surfaces. Its surface has high gloss, good wear resistance, scratch resistance, heat resistance, stain resistance, and easy cleaning.
PET finish usually adopts a solvent-free process, is environmentally friendly, has good UV resistance, and is not easy to fade or age.
In addition, it has good flexibility and is suitable for covering and processing complex shapes. PET finish materials are rich in colors to meet various design needs.
Advantages of PET finish
PET finishes are colorful and have outstanding visual effects. Both glossy and matte surfaces can show a simple and luxurious style. They have excellent physical properties, a wide temperature range, and are not prone to edge collapse during processing.
In addition, PET finishes are made of environmentally friendly food-grade materials, which are acid- and alkali-resistant, corrosion-resistant, non-toxic and odorless, safe and environmentally friendly, and suitable for all kinds of decoration styles and environments. It is a high-performance decorative material that combines beauty and functionality.
Disadvantages of PET finish
The main disadvantage of PET finishes is that they are prone to color difference and fading, especially on poor-quality materials.
Secondly, PET materials have poor high-temperature resistance, are easily deformed in high-temperature environments, are easily scratched or rubbed, and may deform or fade after long-term exposure to water vapor or ultraviolet rays. Although the price is relatively high, the cost performance is not good.
In addition, PET finishes are not easy to clean, have poor stain resistance, and have limited color options, which affects their practicality in daily use.
| Finishes | Common base materials |
Melamine finish |
|
Paint finish |
|
Solid wood finish |
|
Blister (molded) |
|
PET film finish |
|
When choosing interior wall panel finishes, you need to consider factors such as aesthetics, durability, and budget.
Melamine finishes are suitable for spaces with limited budgets and high durability requirements; paint finishes bring a high gloss effect and are suitable for modern styles; solid wood finishes are suitable for creating a natural, high-end atmosphere; blister finishes have a variety of shapes and are often used in functional areas such as kitchens; PET film finishes are environmentally friendly and colorful, suitable for simple or light luxury styles. You can choose the most suitable finish type according to your specific needs and space characteristics.
