Heat resistance of sunmica/formica?

[black_stallion]

Hi! What is the maximum temperature(or heat) that a typical sunmica/formica sheet used on table tops can tolerate without damaging(its upper layer)? In many households, I've noticed that a hot vessel just off the stove is rarely placed directly over the tabletop; a stand or some cloth is placed between both the surfaces(to prevent apparent 'damage' to the table). The general consensus around my city seems that the kind of mica used in tabletops doesn't have much thermal resistance. Is this true?

Edited February 19, 2011 by black_stallion