0.038 IN. THICK TECHNICAL BULLETIN TB-2091 Micastat Static Protective Laminate Made in America Installation and Maintenance cement, white glue (PVA), epoxy, and hot melt glue. Consult your adhesive supplier for specific application requirements. Micastat is a universal grade laminate for use in general purpose, postforming and high wear applications.For details on the installation of Micastat and other high pressure laminated plastic sheets refer to National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) publication LD 3-1995 or follow these step by step directions for non-postforming applications. 1. Prepare the face of the substrate. It should be clean, dry and free of all contaminants which would interfere with Figure 1. Micastat Protective Laminate adhesion. Caution should be taken when removing ESD Blue, ESD Grey, ESD Beige, ESD White sheets and pads from its box, sheets and pads are high pressure laminate plastic and can be susceptible to cracks and breaking if not conditioned before handling Description and installation at 70 to 75deg F and 45-50% RH for 48 Micastat is a high pressure static dissipative laminate hours. designed for workbench tops used in the manufacture and assembly of ESD susceptible electronic components. 2. Stir the adhesive thoroughly and apply an even coat of 9 Micastat meets ANSI/ESD S20.20 requiring RTG <10 adhesive by either spray, roller or brush to both the Ohms per ESD S4.1 and antistatic low tribocharging substrate face and the Micastat back. Do not allow materials <200 volts per ESD STM 4.2. Its patented* multi- coated surfaces to touch. Allow the cement to dry. When layer construction features a conductive layer which bonding to plywood, apply a second coat if the first coat ensures dissipative properties independent of ambient completely penetrates the wood. Use uncoated wood humidity. Micastat shows superior abrasion resistance and strips to assist in connecting coated surfaces. provides rapid, non-sparking charge dissipation. It can be 3. Place thin, uncoated, wooden strips 12 inches apart laminated to plywood, fiber board, partical board tables and across the substrate face. This will keep coated surfaces bench tops with conventional contact adhesives. It is apart bonding will occur once contact is made. resistant to most solvents and greatly exceeds the NEMA specification for wear resistance. 4. Position the over-cut Micastat sheet on top of the wooden strips. Figure 2. Micastat layered construction Installation Figure 3. Micastat sheet on wooden strips Micastat is designed to be laminated to wooden tables or bench tops with conventional contact adhesive and will perform very well in the most rigorous postforming applications to a minimum of 5/8 radius. Desco suggests the use of a high quality solvent or water-based contact *Micastat is a registered trademark of Desco Industries, Inc. and is manufactured under one or more of the following U.S. patents:4,455,350, 4,589,954, 4,645,717, 4,454,199. DESCO WEST - 3651 Walnut Avenue, Chino, CA 91710 (909) 627-8178 Fax (909) 627-7449 DESCO EAST - One Colgate Way, Canton, MA 02021-1407 (781) 821-8370 Fax (781) 575-0172 Web Site: 5. Slowly remove strips of wood taking care to keep the 1. Micastat should be conditioned at 70F to 75F and 45- Micastat in position. The Micastat should fall into 50 percent relative humidity for 48 hours prior to position. postforming. Recommended postforming machinery includes Midwest Automation and Evans Rototorque. 6. Push the laminate down with even hand pressure. 2. The radiused edge of substrate must be smooth, 7. If the Micastat falls out of position, squirt solvent (Desco rounded, and free of irregularities and loose particles. recommends the use of ST102 solvent from Pionite) between the two surfaces and gently lift the Micastat 3. Lead-in cracks may be minimized by ensuring a smooth sheet up. Wait a minimum of 4 hours before reapplying cut on the edge of the laminate. another coat of adhesive, solvent must evaporate totally. Apply another coat of adhesive to both surfaces and 4. Always bond Micastat to a suitable substrate such as reposition. medium to high density fiberboard, or particleboard. It should not be glued directly to plaster walls, gypsum 8. When Micastat is in the correct position, seal the bond wallboard, concrete, or metals. with a rubber J roller or a carpeted block and rubber mallet. Use either roller or block and mallet in a pattern 5. Recommended adhesives include solvent or water- that forces any air bubbles out from underneath based contact cement, white glue (PVA), epoxy, and hot laminate. If Micastat sheet is oversized, sheet can now melt glue. Consult your adhesive supplier for specific be trimmed with a router. After trimming, edges should application requirements. be filed for a smooth splinter free edge. 6. The use of a backing sheet is recommended to minimize warpage. The thickness of the backing sheet should be relatively equal to the thickness of the decorative laminate on the face of the assembly. 7. The decorative surface to be formed should be heated to a temperature of 325F to 375F (165C to 190C). 8. Heat the Micastat wings only, to 325F to 375F (165C to 190C) with a Chomelux heater held 2 to 2.5 from the surface. Tempilaq liquid temperature indicator Figure 4. Wooden block and rubber mallet and J roller or equivalent should be used to determine the technique. temperature. 9. The desired heat-up rate of 325F (165C) should be Once installed, Micastat must be grounded to ensure one second for every 0.001 of thickness (i.e., 30 proper charge dissipation. Refer to general grounding seconds for .028 , 38 seconds for .038 . guidelines on this page. 10. Forming should be accomplished within 5 seconds of Postforming Application achieving proper surface temperature. When the universal grade Micastat is exposed to a temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit it will soften 11. Heat up rates of laminate are affected by thickness, momentarily, allowing a straight line bend to be made. This color, and finish. Temperatures should be verified by bend should be made quickly and uniformly and have a temperature-indicating wax (Tempilaq ). radius equal to or greater than 5/8 . The chemical change that takes place in this process cannot be reversed 12. Let the Micastat laminate cool for five to ten minutes Micastat cannot be reheated. Proper postforming under pressure. machinery and close attention to details such as time and temperature are essential for best results. Preinstallation Fabrication Tips storage conditions are critical to postforming performance. 1. All saw blades and router bits used for cutting should be For detailed postforming information please refer to carbide tipped. Feed rate should be slow and tool speed NEMA publication LD 3-1995 or follow these general should be high. To minimize the development of surface directions. scratches caused by router bits, lubricating the laminate edge with a wax stick is recommended prior to tooling. DESCO WEST - 3651 Walnut Avenue, Chino, CA 91710 (909) 627-8178 Fax (909) 627-7449 DESCO EAST - One Colgate Way, Canton, MA 02021-1407 (781) 821-8370 Fax (781) 575-0172 Web Site: