Encapsulation: The Best Solution For Conserving Documents

Encapsulation is considered as the most effective method of conserving documents

. It involves enveloping a printed material in clear polyester sheets. The edges of the polyester films are sealed to provide total protection from environmental elements.

Encapsulation is an important print finishing operation. It ensures prolonged use of all types of printed materials. Without encapsulating frequently used printed products such as catalogues or display graphics, they cannot be considered ready for use.

Encapsulation vs. lamination

Encapsulation is often mistaken for lamination. Lamination involves binding a material to a thin plastic film. Encapsulation is an extension of the lamination process. It is usually defined as double-sided lamination. In this print finishing process, a thick plastic film is bonded to both the sides of the material with an adhesive. Encapsulation provides better protection than lamination.

There are certain advantages of encapsulating documents that makes it more viable than lamination. Lamination can protect a document for several years. However, if you are contemplating preserving a document for generations, encapsulation is more suitable for the process. Unlike laminates that tend to wear off over time, the thick plastic film enveloping a printed material or graphic retains its original strength and appearance for decades. Therefore, encapsulation is appropriate for conserving historic documents.

If required, you can opt for reversible encapsulation with plastic sheets. Heat or adhesives are not used in this process for enveloping documents in protective films. It is ideal for preserving fragile documents sensitive to heat or that are likely to be damaged by adhesives. However, the encapsulation process involving double lamination of both the surfaces of the material with polyethylene or polypropylene films is irreversible. It is recommended for encapsulating catalogues, menus, posters and displays.

Encapsulation process

There are different techniques of sealing documents in encapsulation films. The outside edges of the plastic films encapsulating the material are sealed with the help of heat welders, ultrasonic welders or double-sided sensitive pressure tapes. In some cases, the outside edges of the plastic are sewn together. The electrostatic charge of the plastic films helps to hold the document in place.

Benefits of encapsulation

Encapsulation protects the encapsulated document from moisture, dust, grime and fingerprints. It can withstand all types of rough handling. It protects documents that are frequently used from crumpling. Encapsulation is a suitable storage solution for important materials. Moreover, with the appropriate finish of the plastic film, encapsulation significantly improves the appearance of a printed document or graphic display.

by: Bax Anderson

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