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Laminate flooring holds a significant market share, enjoying widespread popularity among consumers due to its high quality, low price, and exceptional wear resistance. Wear resistance is typically measured by the wear revolutions test. So, what exactly is the wear revolutions test? Is a higher wear revolution count always better?
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring, also known as impregnated paper laminated wood flooring or laminate flooring, is made of one or more layers of special paper impregnated with thermosetting amino resin, laid on the surface of artificial board substrates such as particleboard and high-density board, with balancing paper added on the back and aluminum oxide wear-resistant layer added on the front. The floor is then hot-pressed and formed. Laminate flooring consists of four layers, namely the surface wear-resistant layer, the patterned decorative layer, the high-density core layer, and the bottom balancing (moisture-proof) layer.
What is the wear resistance revolutions?
The wear resistance number (RPM) is a measure of a floor's wear resistance, typically expressed in revolutions. Wear resistance directly impacts a floor's lifespan. Generally speaking, the higher the RPM, the better the wear resistance. A RPM of 6,000 or more is considered home-use Grade I, 4,000 or more is considered home-use Grade II, and 9,000 or more is considered commercial-grade.
The wear resistance of laminate flooring depends primarily on the aluminum oxide content in the surface layer. The basis weight of wear-resistant paper is measured in grams, which refers to the weight of the paper per square meter. A higher basis weight means more aluminum oxide particles, resulting in more wear-resistant laminate flooring, but this will affect other properties such as transparency. A basis weight of approximately 45 grams of wear-resistant paper meets the 6,000-rpm standard for home use at Grade I.
Does wear-resistant mean durable?
Wear resistance and durability are two different things. The wear revolutions are only one important indicator of laminate flooring's surface performance, but not the only one. Durability is related to many other factors, including impact resistance, scratch resistance, water absorption and thickness expansion rate, internal bond strength, stain resistance, and cigarette burn resistance.
The higher the wear resistance of the floor, the better?
Since the rotation speed affects a floor's wear resistance, the higher the rotation speed, the better. However, this notion is somewhat biased. While a higher rotation speed improves wear resistance, the wood floor's surface texture will not be as clear and natural, and the feel will be significantly worse. A rotation speed of around 6,000 will create a more natural texture and provide a smoother, more comfortable feel.