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Types of Reconstituted

This document provides information on different types of reconstituted or engineered wood panels. It discusses engineered wood products which are made by binding wood fibers, particles or veneers together with adhesives. The main types discussed are plywood, glued laminated timber (glulam), and multi-laminar veneer. Plywood is made of thin wood veneers stacked with alternating grain directions and bonded with adhesives. Glulam uses dimensioned lumber glued together into structural beams. Multi-laminar veneer reproduces decorative wood effects using plantation wood. The document also briefly mentions characteristics, production methods and history of these panel types.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
245 views

Types of Reconstituted

This document provides information on different types of reconstituted or engineered wood panels. It discusses engineered wood products which are made by binding wood fibers, particles or veneers together with adhesives. The main types discussed are plywood, glued laminated timber (glulam), and multi-laminar veneer. Plywood is made of thin wood veneers stacked with alternating grain directions and bonded with adhesives. Glulam uses dimensioned lumber glued together into structural beams. Multi-laminar veneer reproduces decorative wood effects using plantation wood. The document also briefly mentions characteristics, production methods and history of these panel types.

Uploaded by

Jishnu Samadder
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of Reconstituted Panels

MANGALAM TIMBER PRODUCTS LTD | Controlled Document not for un-authorized circulation
Types of Engineered Panel

Engineered Wood
Engineered wood, also called composite wood, includes a range of
derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together
wood strands, particles, fibers, or veneers with adhesives to form
composite materials.

These products are engineered to precise design specifications which are


tested to meet national or international standards.

Typically, engineered wood products are made from the same hardwoods and
softwoods used to manufacture lumber. Sawmill scraps and other wood waste
can be used for engineered wood composed of wood particles or fibers, but
whole logs are usually used for veneers, such as plywood. Alternatively, it is also possible to
manufacture similar engineered cellulosic products from other lignin-containing materials such as rye
straw, wheat straw, hemp stalks, or sugar cane residue, in which case they contain no actual wood
but rather vegetable fibers.

Characteristics

Engineered wood products are used in a variety of ways, often not very similarly to solid wood.
Engineered wood products are preferred over solid wood in many applications due to a certain
comparative advantages:

Because engineered wood is man-made, it can be designed to meet application-specific performance


requirements.
Large panels of engineered wood may be constructed from small trees.
Small pieces of wood and wood that has defects can be used in many engineered wood products,
especially particle and fiber-based boards.
Engineered wood products are often stronger and less prone to humidity-induced warping than
equivalent solid woods, although most particle and fiber-based boards readily soak up water unless
they are treated with sealant or at least paint.
Engineered wood products are more expensive to produce than solid lumber in terms of time,
money, and energy, but enjoy economic advantages when manufactured in large sizes due to the rarity
of trees suitable for cutting large solid-wood panels.

Although engineered wood products use the resource of wood efficiently and therefore promote
natural resource conservation, the required adhesives may be toxic. A concern with some resins is
the release of formaldehyde in the finished product, often seen with urea-formaldehyde bonded
products.

Adhesives types are:

1. Urea-formaldehyde resins, (UF), most common and cheapest, not waterproof


2. Phenol-formaldehyde resins, (PF), a yellow-brown adhesive commonly used for exterior
exposure products
3. Melamine-formaldehyde resin, (MF) a white, heat and water resistant resin, often used in
exposed surfaces in more costly designs.
4. Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) or ethyl carbamate (urethane) resins which are
expensive and generally waterproof do not contain formaldehyde.

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Types of Engineered Panel

Many non-wood products are finding their way into traditional wood products. As example in "types"
below, gypsum board and cement board usually contain no wood or cellulose but have been designed
to replace plywood in some applications demanding wet strength or fire proofing. A wider term used
is "structural composites". As example, fiber cement siding is a construct of cement and wood fiber,
while cement board is a low density cement panel, often with added resin, faced with fiberglass mesh.
Plastic extrusion mixes of wood fiber and thermoplastic, such as polypropylene, has given rise to
decking and railing material resistant to weather and is steadily replacing rot resistant wood.

Multi-laminar Veneer
Multi-laminar Veneer
Multilaminar wood veneer uses plantation wood to reproduce decorative effects which are
typical of quality wood species (often protected and rare).

This aids the preservation of biodiversity and complies with the principles of
Sustainable forest management.

Large sheets of veneer are produced on a machine similar to a lathe. The


sheets are dyed, then compressed and bonded into thick (typically 70cm) logs.
These logs are then sliced to create the end product. If the sheets are
compressed between plattens with an undulating surface, the slice will cross several layers and
produce a patterned effect. Many different finished designs can be obtained by varying the plattens,
dyes and stacking order.

Glued Laminated Timber


Glued Laminated Timber
Glued laminated timber, also called glue-laminated beams or Glulam, is a structural timber
product composed of several layers of dimensioned lumber glued together.

By laminating several smaller pieces of wood, a single large,


strong, structural member can be manufactured from
smaller timber. These structural members are used as
vertical columns or horizontal beams, often in curved,
arching shapes.

Individual structural members are often connected with


timber rivets. A timber rivet is a high strength fastener
which resembles a nail but has a flattened oval shank with a
wedge shaped head. The rivet is driven through pre-drilled
holes in a steel side plate until the tapered head is wedged
into the hole. Timber rivets have numerous advantages over
other fasteners such as bolts and shear plates. They permit a greater load transfer per unit contact
area than any other fastener, resulting in substantial saving in the size of steel side plates.

Glulams, like other engineered wood products, represent an efficient use of available timber. With
an increased demand for lumber worldwide, the amount of solid timber available has steadily
declined. Glulam structural members thus make use of smaller and less desirable dimensions of
timber, yet are engineered to be stronger than similarly sized members comprised of solid wood.

Plywood
Plywood
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Types of Engineered Panel

Plywood was the first type of engineered wood to be invented. It is made from thin sheets of
wood veneer, called plies or veneers.

These are stacked together with the direction of each ply's grain differing from its neighbors' by 90°
(cross-banding). The plies are bonded under heat and pressure with strong adhesives, usually phenol
formaldehyde resin, making plywood a type of composite material. A common reason for using
plywood instead of plain wood is its resistance to cracking, shrinkage, twisting/warping, and its
general high degree of strength.

Types of plywood

A vast number of varieties of plywood exist, with many


conditions and uses. Softwood plywood is usually made
either of Douglas fir or spruce, pine, and fir, and is typically
used for construction and industrial purposes.[3]
Decorative plywood is usually faced with hardwood,
including red oak, birch, maple, lauan (Philippine
mahogany) and a large number of other hardwoods.

Plywood meant for indoor use generally uses the less


expensive urea-formaldehyde glue which has limited water
resistance, while outdoor and marine grade plywood are
designed to withstand rot and use a water resistant phenol-
formaldehyde glue to prevent delamination and to retain
strength in high humidity.

The most common varieties of softwood plywood come in three, five or seven plies with a metric
dimension of 1.2 m × 2.4 m or the slightly larger imperial dimension of 4 feet × 8 feet. Plies vary in
thickness from 1/10" through 1/6" depending on the panel thickness. Roofing can use the thinner
3/8-inch plywood. Floorboards are at least 5/8-inch depending on the distance between floor joists.
Plywood for flooring applications is often tongue and grooved. Two of the edges will have "grooves"
notched into them to fit with the adjacent "tongue" that protrudes from the next board.

High-strength plywood, known as aircraft plywood, is made from mahogany and/or birch. It was
used for several World War II fighter aircraft, including the British-built Mosquito bomber.

Plywood production

Plywood production requires a good log, called a peeler, which is generally straighter and larger in
diameter than one required for processing into dimensioned lumber by a sawmill. The log is peeled
into sheets of veneer which are then cut to the desired dimensions, dried, patched, glued together
and then baked in a press at 140 °C (280 °F) and 19 MPa (2800 psi) to form the plywood panel. The
panel can then be patched, resized, sanded or otherwise refinished, depending on the market it was
intended for.

History

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Types of Engineered Panel

Plywood has been made for thousands of years; the earliest known occurrence of plywood was in
ancient Egypt around 3500 BC when wooden articles were made from sawn veneers glued together
crosswise. This was originally done due to a shortage of fine wood. Thin sheets of high quality wood
were glued over a substrate of lower quality wood for cosmetic effect, with incidental structural
benefits. This manner of inventing plywood has occurred repeatedly throughout history. Many of the
great English furniture makers such as Sheridan used veneer as a raw material.

Modern plywood in which the veneer are cut on a rotary lathe from softwood logs is of relatively
recent origin, invented by Immanuel Nobel. The first such lathes were set up in the United States in
the mid-19th century. Plywood has been one of the most ubiquitous building products for decades.

Plywood terminology

Plywood grades are determined by the veneer quality on the face and back of each panel. The first
letter designates quality of face veneer (best side), while the second letter denotes the surface quality
of the back of the panel. The letter "X" simply indicates the panel was manufactured with exterior
type adhesive.

"A" Highest grade quality available. Can be defect free or contain small knots, providing they are
replaced with wooden plugs or repaired with synthetic patch. May contain occasional surface splits
that are repaired with synthetic filler. Surface is always sanded and provides for smooth paintable
face quality.

"B" Second highest quality veneer grade. Normally a by-product of downgraded "A" quality veneer.
Solid surface, but may contain small diameter knots and narrow surface splits. Normally repaired
with wooden plugs or synthetic filler. Surface normally sanded smooth.

"C" Considered to be a lower end face quality, but a reasonable choice for general construction
purposes. May contain tight knots up to 1½ inches diameter, some open knot holes, some face splits,
and discoloration. Some manufactures may repair the defects with synthetic filler. Panels typically not
sanded.

"D" Considered to be the lowest quality veneer and often used for
the back surface for construction grade panels. Allows for several
knots, large and small, as well as open knots up to 2½ inches
diameter. Open knots, splits, and discoloration are acceptable. "D"
grade veneers are never repaired or sanded. Not recommended for
permanent exposure to weather elements.

Plywood applications

Plywood is used in any application that needs high quality wooden


sheet material. High quality in this context means resistance to
cracking, breaking, shrinkage, twisting and warping. Plywood is also
used as an engineering material for stressed skin applications. Plywood has been used in this fashion
for marine and aviation application since the WWII era. Most notable is the British De Havilland
Mosquito bomber which was primarily made out of wood. Plywood is currently used in stressed skin
applications quite successfully. The American designers Charles and Ray Eames and Phil Bolger are
world famous for their work with plywood
Oriented Strand Board
Oriented Strand Board
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Types of Engineered Panel

Oriented strand board, or OSB, or waferboard, is an engineered wood product formed by layering
strands (flakes) of wood in specific orientations. In appearance it has a rough and variegated
surface with the individual strips (around 2.5 by 15 cm (~1 inch by ~6 inches) each) lying unevenly
across each other in the direction of their grain.
It is manufactured in wide mats from cross-oriented layers of thin,
rectangular wooden strips compressed and bonded together with wax
and resin adhesives (95% wood, 5% wax and resin). The layers are
created by shredding the wood into strips, these are sifted and then
oriented on a belt or wire cauls. The mat is made in a forming line, the
layers are built up with the external layers aligned in the panel direction
and internal layers cross-oriented. The number of layers placed is
determined partly by the thickness of the panel but is limited by the
equipment installed at the manufacturing site, however individual
layers can also vary in thickness to give different finished panel
thicknesses. Typically a 15 cm layer will produce a 15 mm panel
thickness. The mat is placed in a thermal press to compress the flakes
and bond them by heat activation and curing of the resin that has been
coated on the flakes. Individual panels are then cut from the mats into
finished sizes. Most of the worlds OSB is made in the USA and Canada
in large production facilities. The largest production facilities can make over 1,000,000,000 square feet of
OSB per year.

Different qualities in terms of thickness, panel size, strength, and rigidity can be imparted to the OSB by
changes in the manufacturing process. OSB panels have no internal gaps or voids, and are water-resistant,
although they do require additional membranes to achieve impermeability to water. The finished product
has similar properties to plywood, but is uniform and cheaper. It has replaced plywood in many
environments, especially the North American structural panel market. The most common uses are as
sheathing in walls, floors, and roofs.

While OSB does not have grain like a natural wood, it does have a specific axis of strength. This can be
seen by observing the alignment of the surface wood chips. The most accurate method for determining
the axis of strength is to examine the ink stamps placed on the wood by the manufacturer.

There is some debate over the environmental impact of OSB. It allows producers to use tree species such
as aspen or poplar that are unfit for standard veneer plywood or lumber. The production method uses
almost all the wood of the harvested trees, and small, young trees and lower quality fast growing species
can be used. Due to the type of resins used in wood-based structural use panels like OSB, they emit very
low levels of formaldehyde. The emission levels have been found to be not more than 10% of the criteria
of key national standards.

All wood-based structural use panels can be cut and installed with the same ease and types of equipment
used with solid wood. In 2001, 19.4 million m³ of OSB panel was produced in the US. The US is Canada's
largest OSB market, receiving 98% of its export product in 2005.Review of Canadian Structural Panel
Market

Some manufacturers add zinc borate, 2ZNO.303.3.5H20, a powder which is toxic to termites and molds
and fungus but not mammals in applied doses. Buyers should ask whether zinc borate is added to their
purchase.

Wafer board
Wafer board
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Types of Engineered Panel

Waferboard belongs to the subset of reconstituted wood panel products called flakeboards, which
is a type of particleboard.

It is a structural material made from rectangular wood flakes of controlled


length and thickness bonded together with waterproof phenolic resin
under extreme heat and pressure. The layers of flakes are not oriented,
which makes it easier to manufacture in a laboratory setting.

Particle Board
Particle Board
Particle board (called "chipboard" in the UK and Australia) is an engineered wood product
manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even saw dust, and
a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded.

Particle board is a type of fiberboard, a composite material, but it is made up of larger pieces of wood than
medium-density fibreboard and hardboard.

Characteristics

Particle board is cheaper, denser and more uniform than conventional


wood and plywood and is substituted for them when appearance and
strength are less important than cost. However, particle board can be
made more attractive by painting or the use of wood veneers that are
glued onto surfaces that will be visible. Though it is denser than
conventional wood, it is the lightest and weakest type of fiberboard,
except for insulation board. Medium-density fibreboard and hardboard,
also called high-density fiberboard, are stronger and denser than
particle board.

A major disadvantage of particle board is that it is very prone to expansion and discoloration due to
moisture, particularly when it is not covered with paint or another sealer. Therefore, it is rarely used
outdoors or places that have high levels of moisture, with the exception of some bathrooms, kitchens and
laundries, where it is commonly used as an underlayment beneath a continuous sheet of vinyl floor
covering. In such an installation the edges must be properly covered upward against the wall and joints and
non-covered edges must be properly sealed against moisture penetration. A higher quality material not
subject to expansion is underlayment-grade plywood, which is constructed without interior voids in its
layers to better resist the high local pressure from objects such as stiletto heels.

History and development

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Types of Engineered Panel

Plywood, as an alternative to natural wood, was invented during the Second World War but by the end of
the 1940s there was not enough lumber around to manufacture plywood affordably. Particle board was
intended to be a replacement. The first commercial piece was produced during the war at a factory in
Bremen, Germany.

It used waste material such as planer shavings, offcuts or sawdust, hammer-milled into chips, and bound
together with a phenolic resin. Hammer-milling involves smashing material into smaller and smaller pieces
until they pass out through a screen. Most other early particle board manufacturers used similar processes,
though often with slightly different resins.

It was found that better strength, appearance and resin economy could be achieved by using more uniform,
manufactured chips. Manufacturers began processing solid birch, beech, alder, pine and spruce into
consistent chips and flakes. These finer layers were then placed on the outsides of the board, with the
central section composed of coarser, cheaper chips. This type of board is known as three layer particle
board.

More recently, graded density particle board has also evolved. It contains particles that gradually become
smaller as they get closer to the surface.

Manufacturing

Particle board is a form of fiberboard. Other fiberboards include medium density fiberboard (MDF) and
hardboard. Particleboard is the least dense of these and, therefore, the least strong. Other forms of wood
sheet products include plywood, which is constructed by gluing together thin sheets of wood (veneer).

Particle board is manufactured by mixing wood particles or flakes together with a resin and forming the
mix into a sheet. The raw material to be used for the particles is fed into a disc chipper with between four
and sixteen radially-arranged blades. The particles are first dried, after which any oversized or undersized
particles are screened out.

Resin, in liquid form, is then sprayed through nozzles onto the particles. There are several types of resins
which are commonly used. Urea formaldehyde resin is the cheapest and easiest to use. It is used for most
non-water resistant boards. Melamine formaldehyde resin is significantly more expensive, as it is moisture
resistant. Phenol formaldehyde is also fairly expensive. It is dark colored and highly durable. These resins
are sometimes mixed with other additives before being applied to the particles, in order to make the final
product waterproof, fireproof, insectproof, or to give it some other quality.

Once the resin has been mixed with the particles, the liquid mixture is made into a sheet. A weighing device
notes the weight of flakes, and they are distributed into position by rotating rakes. In graded density particle
board, the flakes are spread by an air jet which throws finer particles further than coarse ones. Two such
jets, reversed, allow the particles to build up from fine to coarse and back to fine.

The sheets formed are then cold-compressed to reduce their thickness and make them easier to transport.
Later, they are compressed again, under pressures between two and three megapascals and temperatures
between 140 and 220 degrees Celsius. This process sets and hardens the glue. All aspects of this entire
process must be carefully controlled to ensure the correct size, density and consistency of the board. The
boards are then cooled, trimmed and sanded. They can then be sold untreated, or covered in a wood veneer.

Impact on timber resources and the environment

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Particleboard and other manufactured boards have had a very positive impact on timber resources,
stemming almost entirely from the use of recycled materials. Seventy-five percent of particleboard
manufactured in Canada and the US is constructed entirely from recycled materials. The remaining twenty-
five percent of boards are constructed partially from recycled material and partially from virgin wood.
These mixed panels have an average recycled content of sixty-six percent. This is still significantly more
resource efficient than solid wood, even when considering that in many cases these panels will be covered
with a thin veneer of virgin wood.

Europe consumes around 45 million cubic metres of particleboard and MDF every year. If solid wood
were used instead of these manufactured boards, an enormous burden would be placed on the
environment. It lessens the need for trees to be felled, while at the same time reducing waste.

Furniture design

Particleboard has had an enormous influence on furniture design. In the


early 1950s, particleboard kitchens started to come into use in furniture
construction but, in many cases, it remained more expensive than solid
wood. A particleboard kitchen was only available to the very wealthy.
Once the technology was more developed, particleboard became
cheaper.

Large companies such as Freedom and Ikea base their strategies around
providing well-designed furniture, at a low price. In almost all cases, this
means particleboard. Ikea’s stated mission is to “create well designed
home furniture at prices so low as many people as possible will be able
to afford them”. They do this by using the cheapest materials possible,
as do most other major furniture providers. As a result, solid wood furniture has become an expensive
luxury and particleboard the norm.

Safety

Safety concerns arise from the glue which is used to glue the particles together in the production, and some
people believe that the dust produced is toxic. In most boards, this resin is formaldehyde based.
Formaldehyde is classified by the European Union as a likely human carcinogen. 99.99% of this chemical
is contained within the board by the curing process. However, when using power tools on the boards,
much more is released in wood dust, which must be removed. This is done by dust extraction, with
extractors running at at least ten to twenty metres per second capture velocity.

Comparison of solid wood to particleboard

Particleboard’s selling point is its price. However, it has several other advantages, one of which is its
stability. Solid wood is prone to warping and splitting with changes in humidity, whereas particleboard is
not. This stability enables new design possibilities, without having to take into account seasonal variations.
Untreated particleboard will disintegrate, however, when exposed to high levels of moisture.

Solid wood has structural advantages over particleboard. It is stronger, allowing it to support greater
weights as shelves or other furniture; unless braced or built with thick material, particle board shelves may
visibly sag over time. Solid wood is also more durable. Most damage to solid wood can be repaired easily,
often simply by sanding. Any damage to particleboard is difficult to repair.

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Many people consider solid wood furniture to be more attractive than particleboard. However, the veneer
on particleboard is usually cut from wood selected for its appearance and so has the potential of being just
as attractive.

Wood Flour
Wood Flour
Wood flour is finely pulverized wood that has a consistencey fairly equal to sand, but can vary
considerably, with particles ranging in size from a fine powder to roughly the size of a grain
of rice.

Most wood flour manufacturers are able to create batches of wood flour that have the
same consistency throughout. All high quality wood flour is made from hardwoods
because of its durability and strength. Very low grade wood flour is occasionally made
from sapless softwoods such as pine or fir. Wood flour is commonly used as a filler in thermosetting
resins such as Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, also known as Bakelite; and in Linoleum floor
coverings. Wood flour is also the main ingredient in wood/plastic composite building products such
as decks and roofs

Fibreboard
Fiberboard
Fiberboard is a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers.

Types of fibreboard (in order of increasing density) include particle


board, medium-density fibreboard, high-density fibreboard and
hardboard. Fibreboard is sometimes used as a synonym for particle
board, but particle board usually refers to low-density fibreboard.
Plywood is not a type of fibreboard, as it is made of thin sheets of
wood, not wood fibers or particles. Fibreboard, particularly
medium-density fibreboard (MDF), is heavily used in the furniture
industry. For pieces that will be visible, a veneer of wood is often
glued onto fibreboard to give it the appearance of conventional wood

Hardboard
Hardboard
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Types of Engineered Panel

Hardboard, also called high-density fibreboard, is a type of fiberboard, which is an engineered


wood product.

It is similar to particleboard and medium-density fiberboard, but is


more dense and much harder because it is made out of exploded
wood fibers that have been highly compressed. It is referred to as
Masonite in the USA because that was the first brand to be marketed
there in the 1920s (25 years after it was invented in England).

Unlike solid wood, it is very homogeneous with no grain. However,


a wood veneer can be glued onto it to give the appearance of solid
wood. Other overlays include formica and vinyl. It has many uses,
such as a substrate, but unlike plywood and solid wood, it has no
significant structural strength. It is used in construction, furniture, appliances, automobiles and
cabinetry, and is popular among acrylic and oil painters as a painting surface due to its economical
price (though it must be coated with gesso or canvas before use). It is also used as the final layer in
many skateboard ramps and the half-pipe.

Hardboard is produced in either a wet or dry process, which produce


a panel called S1S or S2S respectively. The wet process only leaves
one smooth side, but dry processed hardboard is smooth on both
sides. Like other types of fiberboard, hardboard is susceptible to
moisture damage and is generally not used outside. Tempered
hardboard is made by adding an oil that becomes a polymer when
the board is formed under high temperature and pressure. This gives
it more water resistance, hardness, rigidity and tensile strength. It is
used in construction siding. Tempered hardboard is less suitable for
use by artists as the oil can leach out of the board and discolour the
paint.

Hardboard was invented by Daniel Manson Sutherland in 1898, at Sunbury Common in Spelthorne
near London. He formed the Patent Impermeable Millboard Company to market and develop his
invention

Medium Density Fibreboard


Medium Density Fibreboard

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Types of Engineered Panel

Medium-density fibreboard (MDF or MDFB) is an engineered wood product formed by


breaking down softwood into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and
resin, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure.

It is a building material similar in application to plywood but made up


of separated fibres, not wood veneers. It is denser than normal
particleboard.

Large-scale production of MDF began in the 1980s. Its name derives


from the distinction in densities of fibreboard. MDF typically has a
density of 600-800 kg/m³, in contrast to particle board (160-450 kg/m³)
and to high-density fibreboard (500-1450 kg/m³). Similar
manufacturing processes are used in making all types of fibreboard.

MDF is also known as Customwood or Craftwood.

MDF has been controversial in regard to its use of formaldehyde resins and the associated health risks.
Thus, other resins are being considered and used instead of formaldehyde.

Manufacturing

MDF is a wood product created by breaking down a softwood into a powder, which is then mixed
with wax and resin. The final finish is created by submitting the boards to high temperatures.

In Australia the main species wood used for MDF is plantation-grown radiata pine. However a variety
of other products have also been used including other woods, waste paper and fibres.

The trees are debarked after being cut. The bark can be sold for use in landscaping, or burned in on-
site furnaces. The debarked logs are sent to the MDF plant where they go though the chipping process.
A typical disk chipper contains 4-16 blades. Any resulting chips that are too large may be re-chipped;
undersized chips may be used as fuel. All chips are then washed and checked for defects.

The chips are then compacted using a screwfeeder, and will be heated for 30-120 seconds to soften
the wood; they are then fed into a defibrator which maintains high pressure and temperature. The pulp
that exits from the defibrator is fine, fluffy, and light in weight and in colour.

From the defibrator the pulp enters a blow line where it is joined with wax (to improve moisture
resistance) and resin (to stop the pulp from forming bundles). The material expands in size and is then
heated by heating coils. When it comes out it may be stored in bins for an indefinite length of time.

After this drying period the board goes through a "Pendistor" process which creates 230-610 mm thick
boards. Then it is cut and continues to the press. Here it is pressed for a few minutes, to make a
stronger and denser board.

After pressing MDF is cooled in a star dryer, trimmed and sanded. In certain applications boards are
also laminated for extra strength.

The Environmental Impact of MDF has greatly improved over the years. Today many MDF boards
are made from a variety of materials. These include other woods, scrap, recycled paper, bamboo,
carbon fibres and polymers, steel, glass, forest thinning and sawmill off-cuts.

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Comparison to natural woods

Benefits of MDF:

Less expensive than natural wood


Isotropic (no grain), so no tendency to split
Consistent in strength and size
Drawbacks of MDF:

Heavier (the resins are heavy)


Requires painting
Swells and breaks when waterlogged
Warps or expands if not sealed
Contains urea-formaldehyde which may cause eye and lung irritation
when cutting and sanding
Dulls blades more quickly than many woods

Different kinds of

There are different kinds of MDF, which are sometimes labeled by color:

Moisture-resistant is typically green


Fire-retardant MDF is typically red
High function for powder lacking
Lighter densities of fiber board are commonly marketed as ultralight or LDF boards

MANGALAM TIMBER PRODUCTS LTD | Controlled Document not for un-authorized circulation

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