ASTM F2296-04

The image life of printed media displayed in both typical office and outdoor environments can be extended by lamination or encapsulation. While natural aging is the most reliable method of assessing lamination adhesion, the length of the time required makes this method impractical for most materials. This practice utilizing mechanical stress allows comparative studies of prints and laminating films.

Factors in the office and outdoor environments, such as heat, cold, thermal shock, ultraviolet/visible radiation and water vapor can have effect on laminate stability. The resistance of the laminate to these factors can be assessed by applying mechanical stress.

Good adhesion is a prime consideration for laminating films and prints. A laminating film, which does not adhere to a print or vice versa generally, has no commercial value. This practice is used to obtain comparative data of adhesion strength of encapsulated or laminated media.

1.1 This practice describes procedures for assessing the adhesion between lamination films and black and white or color images produced by printers, copies and other reprographic devices.

1.2 This practice can be used to test different laminates with a given set of inks and media or it can be used to evaluate inks and media with a given laminate.

1.3 This practice is applicable to laminated images, where the substrate surface is subject to failure under mechanical stress from mostly peel conditions (that is, paper, film, cloth, and so forth).

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.