Digital BW, The Print

This may be anathema for our group, but:

Have any of you run across information concerning the archival qualities, or lack thereof, of hot lamination?

My sister recently gave me reproductions of paintings by a local artist. The prints were laminated, and looked surprisingly good. The laminating material was thicker than the stuff you normally see at stationery stores, and they were dead flat.

I’ve laminated a couple prints for children.  11x14, with a 1 inch transparent margin all around, and two grommets through the top corners to suspend the print by a thick cord. Hangs on a nail, bedpost, or whatever, and can withstand sticky little fingers. Also suitable for garages, workshops, and the like. :-)

The prints my sister gave me were a step up in thickness and general refinement, but I have no idea how they were produced.

Full lamination makes me nervous, since there’s no backing out, but it does have the advantage of sealing out a nasty environment.  I have no idea how most laminating films treat, and are treated by, UV light.

I have found it difficult to find technical information on laminating films. Can any of you help?

Myron