Medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particle board are types of engineered wood products made from wood fibers or particles bonded together with synthetic resins. MDF is denser and smoother than particle board, while particle board uses wood flakes and is the least dense and strongest type of fiberboard. Both are manufactured by mixing wood components with resins under heat and pressure to form flat panels for interior construction and furniture applications.
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particle board are types of engineered wood products made from wood fibers or particles bonded together with synthetic resins. MDF is denser and smoother than particle board, while particle board uses wood flakes and is the least dense and strongest type of fiberboard. Both are manufactured by mixing wood components with resins under heat and pressure to form flat panels for interior construction and furniture applications.
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particle board are types of engineered wood products made from wood fibers or particles bonded together with synthetic resins. MDF is denser and smoother than particle board, while particle board uses wood flakes and is the least dense and strongest type of fiberboard. Both are manufactured by mixing wood components with resins under heat and pressure to form flat panels for interior construction and furniture applications.
Medium Density Fiber Board 1. Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) is a reconstituted wood panel product. It is a dry-processed fibreboard manufactured from wood fibres, as opposed to veneers or particles, and is denser than plywood and particleboard. MDF has an even density throughout and is smooth on both sides. 2. MDF is reconstituted into wood sheets in a variety of widths and lengths. Bonding is achieved by the addition of synthetic resin adhesives, which are cured under heat and pressure. 3. Paraffin wax is added to assist with water repellency, while other chemicals can be added during manufacturing for more specific protection. 4. MDF is primarily used for internal use applications, in part due to its poor moisture resistance. It is available in raw form with a fine sanded surface or with decorative overlay such as wood veneer, melamine paper or vinyl. Medium Density Fiber Board (MDF) Medium Density Fiber Board (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hard wood or softwood residuals into wood fibers combining it with wax and resin binder and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. Urea Formaldehyde resins are dominantly used in the mdf industry because of their low cost and fast curing characteristics. The name derives from the distinction in densities of fiber board. It is stronger and much denser than particle board. The term MDF has become a generic name for any dry process fiber board It is made up of separated fibres, but can be used as a building material similar in application to plywood. Physical Properties of MDF . The density of the board, when evaluated in relation to the density of the fibre that goes into making the panel, is important. . A thick MDF panel at a density of 700–720 kg/m3 may be considered as high density in the case of softwood fibre panels, whereas a panel of the same density made of hard wood fibres is not regarded as so. The evolution of the various types of MDF has been driven by differing need for specific applications Physical Properties of MDF MDF is typically made up of 82% wood fiber, 9% urea- formaldehyde resin glue, 8% water and 1% paraffin wax. Its density is typically between 500 kg/m3 and 1,000 kg/m3. The range of density and classification as light, standard, or high density board is a misnomer and confusing. The density of the board when evaluated in relation to the density of the fibre that goes into making the panel is important. TYPES OF MDF There are different kinds of MDF (sometimes labeled by colour): Moisture resistant is typically green Fire retardant MDF is typically red or blue Although similar manufacturing processes are used in making all types of fibreboard, MDF has a typical density of 600–800 kg/m³ or 0.022–0.029 lb/in3, in contrast to particle board (160– 450 kg/m³) and to high-density fibreboard (600–1,450 kg/m³). Comparison with natural woods MDF does not contain knots or rings, making it more uniform than natural woods during cutting and in service. However, MDF is not entirely isotropic, since the fibres are pressed tightly together through the sheet. Typical MDF has a hard, flat, smooth surface that makes it ideal for veneering, as there is no underlying grain to telegraph through the thin veneer as with plywood. A so-called "Premium" MDF is available that features more uniform density throughout the thickness of the panel. Comparison with natural woods MDF may be glued, doweled or laminated. Typical fasteners are T-nuts and pan-head machine screws. Smooth-shank nails do not hold well, and neither do fine- pitch screws, especially in the edge. Special screws are available with a coarse thread pitch, but sheet-metal screws also work well. Like natural wood, MDF may split when woodscrews are installed without pilot holes. Pros of MDF 1. Is an excellent substrate for veneers. 2. Some varieties are less expensive than many natural woods 3. Isotropic (its properties are the same in all directions as a result of no grain), so no tendency to split 4. Consistent in strength and size 5. Shapes well. 6. Stable dimensions (won't expand or contract like wood) 7. Easy to finish (i.e., paint) Cons of MDF 1. Denser than plywood or chipboard (the resins are heavy) 2. Low grade MDF may swell and break when saturated with water. 3. May warp or expand if not sealed. 4. May release formaldehyde, which is a known human carcinogen and may cause allergy, eye and lung irritation when cutting and sanding associated with nasal sinus cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, and possibly with leukaemia. Cons of MDF 1. Dulls blades more quickly than many woods 2. Though it does not have a grain in the plane of the board, it does have one into the board. 3. Screwing into the edge of a board will generally cause it to split in a fashion similar to delaminating. 4. Subject to significant shrinkage in low humidity environments. 5. Trim (e.g. baseboards) comes pre-primed, but this is insufficient for fine finish painting. 6. Painting with latex paints is difficult due to rapid water absorption. 7. Most finishes appear uneven and nail holes tend to pucker. Fibre Cement Cladding Applications of MDF 1. MDF is often used in school projects because of its flexibility. 2. Slatwall Panels made from MDF are used in the shop fitting industry. 3. MDF is primarily used for internal use applications due to its poor moisture resistance. 4. It is available in raw form with fine sanded surface or with decorative overlay. 5. MDF is also usable for furniture such as cabinets, because of its strong surface. Veneered MDF 1. Veneered MDF provides many of the advantages of MDF with a decorative wood veneer surface layer. 2. In modern construction, spurred by the high costs of hardwoods, manufacturers have been adapting this approach to achieve a high quality finishing wrap covering over a standard MDF board. 3. One common type uses oak veneer. 4. Making veneered MDF is a complex procedure, which involves taking an extremely thin slice of hardwood (approx 1-2mm thick) and then through high pressure and stretching methods wrapping them around the profiled MDF boards. This is only possible with very simple profiles because otherwise when the thin wood layer has dried out, it will break at the point of bends and angles. Veneered MDF Manufacturing of MDF PARTICLE BOARD Particle Board Particle board, also known as particleboard and chipboard, is also an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even sawdust, and a synthetic resinor other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded. Oriented strand board, also known as flakeboard, waferboard, or chipboard, is similar but uses machined wood flakes offering more strength. All of these are composite materials that belong to the spectrum of fiberboard products. Characteristics of Particle Board • Particle board is cheaper, denser and more uniform than conventional wood and plywood and is substituted for them when cost is more important than strength and appearance. •However, particleboard can be made more attractive by painting or the use of wood veneers 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 particleboard. • Different grades of particleboard have different densities, with higher density connoting greater strength and greater resistance to failure of screw fasteners Characteristics of Particle Board •A major disadvantage of particleboard 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 in places where there are high levels of moisture, with the exception of some bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, where it is commonly used as an underlayment - in its moisture resistant variant - beneath a continuous sheet of vinyl flooring. •The advantages of using particleboard over veneer core plywood is it is more stable, (unless it gets wet), much cheaper to buy, and somewhat more convenient to use. Particle Board Furniture Manufacturing of Particle Board 1. Particleboard or chipboard is manufactured by mixing wood particles or flakes together with a resin and forming the mixture into a sheet. 2. The raw material to be used for the particles is fed into a disc chipper with between four and sixteen radially arranged blades. 3. The particles are then dried, after which any oversized or undersized particles are screened out. 4. Resin is then mist-sprayed through fine nozzles onto the particles. 5. Amino-formaldehyde based resins are the best performing when considering cost and ease of use. 6. Urea Melamine resins are used to offer water resistance with increased melamine offering enhanced resistance Manufacturing of Particle Board 1. Panel production involves various other chemicals—including wax, dyes, wetting agents, release agents—to make the final product water resistant, fireproof, insect proof, or to give it some other quality. 2. The particles then pass through a mist of resin sufficient to coat all surfaces and are then layered, first into a continuous carpet. 3. This 'carpet' is then separated into discrete, rectangular 'blankets' which will then be compacted in a cold press. A weighing device notes the weight of flakes, and they are distributed into position by rotating rakes. In graded-density particleboard, the flakes are spread by an air jet that throws finer particles further than coarse ones. Manufacturing of Particle Board 1. Two such jets, reversed, allow the particles to build up from fine to coarse and back to fine. 2. The sheets formed are then cold-compressed to reduce their thickness and make them easier to transport. 3. Later, they are compressed again, under pressures between 2 and 3 megapascals (290 and 440 psi) and temperatures between 140 and 220 °C (284 and 428 °F). This process sets and hardens the glue. 4. All aspects of this entire process must be carefully controlled to ensure the correct size, density and consistency of the board. 5. The boards are then cooled, trimmed and sanded. They can then be sold as raw board or surface improved through the addition of a wood veneer or laminate surface. Manufacture of Particle Board Pros of particle board 1. LOW COST - The main pro of particle board over plywood is that its cost is very low. 2. Readymade furniture – particle board are machine manufactured to desired dimensions and thus standard peices of furniture can be mass produced using these boards. 3. Pre-laminated boards – A thin layer of lamination is usually glued over the surface of the particle boards at the time they are manufactured. 4. Light Weight – Particle boards are very light in weight and hence furniture made from these boards is relatively easy to transport and move around. Cons of Particle Board 1. Low on strength – particle board furniture is quite weak compared to other kinds of engineered woods such as plywood. 2. Low life, low durability – Apart from being low on strength, particle boards are also prone to getting damaged because of moisture and humidity. 3. Cannot support Heavy loads 4. Not as ecofriendly as solid wood furniture – Particle boards are made from small particles of wood such as saw dust and small chips which are glued and pressed together to form a sheet. This is not as ecofriendly as using good quality solid wood furniture that is 100% natural.