The Art Diffusion product offers the customer an extremely broad variety of cores, patterns, finishes and installation choices. In order to translate your requirements into an accurate specification, the following considerations need to be borne in mind:

Core Materials

Panels are available in the standard materials set out below.

Note that not all core materials are available in all sizes and patterns.

High Density Fibreboard – Premier Plus HDF is Interlam’s standard Art Diffusion core.

The following options are also available:

• Arreis – (SDF –or 'Sustainable Design Fibreboard'), composed of 100% post industrial recycled wood fibre, and produced with a formaldehyde-free adhesive system. This core has the same characteristics as standard MDF.
• Medite – FR – flame retardant, with low flame spread and smoke development. Also manufactured with SCS (‘Scientific Certification Systems) certified 100% recovered and 100% post industrial recycled wood fibre content.
• Extira Board - A treated wood composite panel product that resists moisture, rot and termites and offers excellent performance in exterior environments. Extira can be used in any non-structural paint-grade EXTERIOR application. It also works well for high moisture interior environments.
• Premier® Fire Rated MDF - This fire-retardant panel is manufactured using a chemical system to achieve a fire-rated panel that is classified by Underwriters Laboratories for surface burning characteristics. Premier® MDF is ideal for commercial and institutional applications when required by fire safety codes and architectural specifications. The maximum thickness available in this core is 38 mm.
• Valchromat – wood fibre panel coloured throughout. Innovative because it was the first product of its kind in the market and unique for its exclusive physical properties that set it aside and make Valchromat Interlam’s star product.
• Celtec® Expanded rigid foam PVC/Radius applications - a foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet whose extraordinary combination of features makes it ideal for signage, exhibits, store displays, POP, kiosks, screen printing and more. This material can also be curved by thermoforming, line bending or vacuum forming it to the desired shape.
• Cyro ACRYLITE® Acrylic – these panels have up to the theoretical maximum light transmission, high surface hardness, good UV resistance and can be viewed from either side. All grades of ACRYLITE compounds are available in clear and a wide spectrum of transparent, translucent and opaque colors.

For further information on the available cores click here.

Patterns

Once a core material has been selected, the next step is to choose your pattern. Click here to browse Interlam’s extensive range of patterns. More patterns are being added all the time.

Panel size

The standard panel size is 1220 mm x 2440 mm. Custom panels can be produced up to 1520 mm wide and up to 3050 mm long. Not all core materials are available in these larger sizes.

Pattern depth

The pattern depth refers to the deepest cut that is made in the raw stock in order to produce the pattern. This will dictate (amongst other things) the panel thickness required. Some designs can reach depths of up to 30 mm.

Panel thickness

Panel thickness refers to the thickness of the raw stock prior to machining. Factors which will affect the chosen panel thickness include the pattern choice, installation methods and material availability.

Interlam recommends a minimum panel thickness for each of its patterns. If a product is to be installed by screwing directly into the Art Diffusion panel, then the panel thickness should be increased by a minimum of 12 mm.

Pattern direction

Most patterns can be produced in either a vertical or horizontal application. A pattern is said to be vertical if the tool marks generally run along the length of the panel, and are said to be horizontal where the tool marks run across the width of the panel. This may not always be obvious – see Interlam’s web site to determine your preferred orientation for a given pattern. Note that the vertical and horizontal designations have nothing to do with the installed orientation.

Pattern Repeat Type

Most patterns can be manufactured so that the pattern continues smoothly from panel to panel in all directions creating a monolithic appearance when installed. Depending on the pattern and customer requirements, this continuity can be achieved in a variety of ways. Pattern ‘repeat types’ include the following:

• Continuous flow pattern type – a continuous flow pattern does not necessarily repeat in any direction. This type of pattern is generated by a computer to flow over a project area of any size and any number of panels. Each panel is therefore unique, and is labeled to simplify assembly on site. When ordering continuous flow panels, the customer must provide a layout indicating the dimensions of the project area as well as the dimensions of all of the individual panels which are then manufactured to order.
• Repeating pattern type – these are identical standard size panels that fit together side to side and top to bottom. Note that repeating panels are only available as 1220 mm x 2440 mm sheets; if non standard panel sizes are required, even for a repeating pattern type, panels must be ordered as continuous flow at an additional cost.
• Single panel pattern type – Single panels are available as shown in Interlam’s literature, or as a mirror image of that pattern. Available in standard 1220 mm x 2440 mm panels only, by mirroring across panel seams, a continuous project area can create a pattern reminiscent of book matched veneers.
• Fixed set pattern type – two or more non repeating 1220 mm x 2440 mm panels that fit together only one way. Single panels may be selected out of a set, or the entire set may be used in a project. Fixed panels may also be mirrored.
• A-B repeat type – this pattern repeats in every other panel. Alternated in the final installation achieves a monolithic appearance.

Finishes

The following extensive range of finishes are available:

• Membrane Films (in a wide range of wood grains and colours, finished in matt and gloss)
• Metal finishes
• Metal paints
• Oxidised finishes
• Siltex; and
• Tortoise Shell

See Interlam's web site for the full options available.

Installation methods

Most Art Diffusion panels will have a slight 'bow' or 'warping' due to how they are manufactured. This is considered normal and can easily be removed through proper installation. If a higher degree of flatness is required prior to installation, Baltic Birch Plywood can be bonded to the back of panels prior to manufacture. This reduces but will not completely eliminate warping. The maximum size of Baltic Birch is 1520 x 3050 mm.

Panels can be applied to the wall with 'z' clips, a construction mastic or by screwing directly into the back of the panels. Please contact us to discuss your installation requirements.