Every decorative panel you purchase is a two-part system: a decorative facing laminated onto a structural core. The facing dictates the aesthetic. The substrate dictates the panel's weight, screw-holding capacity, moisture behavior, edge quality, and ultimately your unit cost.
The terminology around furniture materials is notoriously messy. Mention "PET" to a layman, and they think of plastic water bottles. Mention it to an acoustic designer, and they picture sound-absorbing felt panels made from recycled polyester fibers.
Ask any cabinet maker or furniture importer to define their core material, and the conversation inevitably starts with melamine. Despite its ubiquity in the trade, there is still widespread confusion among buyers regarding specifications, grading, and performance limitations.
