Expert: - 1/14/2009

Question
What are synthetic lanes made of? I am interested in the anatomy of the lane itself.

Answer
larry,
is this a homework question?

From Murrey, "synthetic lanes are manufactured from 7/16" thick solid phenolic. Phenolic is the by-product of a number of different proprietary phenols and resins. Hence the term "pheno"lic.

The lane itself starts off with dozens and dozens of layers of paper. The last layer of paper is what has the lane and glow pattern.

The paper is stacked about 8" high and under tons and tons of heat and pressure compresses this 8" high stack into a solid piece of 7/16" phenolic lane. The surface of the lane is a clear coat of melamine."

Thanks for the question.