PLYWOOD & ADHESIVES

CONTENTS
1. Introduction - plywood
2. Properties
3. Uses
4. What is made of ?
5. Manufacture
6. Advantages
7. Disadvantages
8. Grades
9. Types and cost
10. Sizes and cost
11. Joineries
12. Manufacturers in india
13. All about adhesives

Dates back to 1797 when a British Naval Engineer named Samuel Bentham applied for patent
rights for machineries which were to be used for producing veneers . In his application he
described how several layers of veneer were glued together to form a thick piece – his theory
of lamination .
The thick piece formed is now referred to as plywood.
INTRODUCTION
 Plywood is a building material that is used in everything from furniture to
house construction.
 Plywood's versatility has ensured it an important role in construction,
furniture-making and woodcrafts, and the material comes in many shapes
and sizes.
 Plywood can be made of softwood or hardwood, and depending on how
the plywood was made and/or treated, it may be particularly well suited to
aircraft or marine applications.

www. https://gharpedia.com/properties-of-plywood
PROPERTIES
1. Increased Stability:
Plywood offers all the advantages of the parent
wood plus has additional strength and stability
because of its laminated structure

2. High Impact Resistance:

Plywood has high tensile strength, derived from
the cross lamination of panels. This is useful
where the seismic activity or cyclonic winds occur.
These plywood properties are effective when
used as a flooring or concrete formwork.

3. High Strength

4. Cost
Plywood is made from wood chips and wood
shavings making it cheaper than wood itself and
economical for large scale projects.

5. High Panel shear :

Twice that of solid wood . Used as gusset plates ,
portal frames .
https://homeguid
PROPERTIES
6. Chemical Resistance:
Plywood does not corrode and therefore can
be used in chemical works and cooling towers
as a cost effective, durable material.

7. Flexibility:
Available in various shapes and sizes .Thin
veneers are used to increase flexibility for use
in ceilings and paneling.

8. Fire Resistance:
Plywood can be treated with a fire resistant
chemical coating.

9. Insulation:
Plywood has high thermal and sound
insulation.
WHAT IS IT MADE OF ?
 Plywood is manufactured from softwood, hardwood, or both.
 The hardwoods used are ash, maple, oak, and mahogany. Douglas fir is the
most popular softwood for making plywood, although pine, redwood, and
cedar are common.
 Composite plywood can also be engineered with a core of solid timber
pieces or particleboard, with a wood veneer for the face and back.
Composite plywood is preferable when thick sheets are required.
 Additional materials can be added to the face and back veneers to improve
durability. These include plastic, resin-impregnated paper, fabric, Formica,
or even metal. These are added as a thin outer layer to resist moisture,
abrasion and corrosion. They also facilitate better binding of paint and dyes.
HOW IS IT MADE ?
1. Plywood consists of the face, core, and back.
2. The face is the surface that is visible after installation, while the core lies
between the face and back.
3. Thin layers of wood veneers are glued together with a strong adhesive.
This is mainly a phenol or urea formaldehyde resin.
4. Each layer is oriented with its grain perpendicular to the adjacent layer.
5. Plywood as a building material is generally formed into large sheets. It may
also be curved for use in ceilings, aircraft, or ship building.
ADVANTAGES
1. Good uniform strength
2. Can be used for making interior home furniture as well as exterior furniture.
3. Available in large sizes compared to solid wood
4. Economical use of wood by mixing various woods together
5. Available in varieties such as flexible plywood.
6. Lesser wastage of wood
7. Versatile material that has many applications.
8. Durable material
9. Less costly compared to solid wood
DISADVANTAGES

1. Water can damage MR grade plywood

The layers of plywood can come apart on prolonged exposure to water.

2. Can bend or sag when longer pieces are used.

Plywood is not considered suitable for applications that require longer pieces of
wood such as our front doors, benches, wardrobe doors or any other place
where long panels are required.

3. Difficult to judge the quality of a plywood sheet.

4. Plywood usually needs additional enhancements.

Solid wood in itself looks beautiful. Whereas most commercial grade plywood
on the other hand, needs to be covered by laminates so as to enhance its
beauty and to increase its life.

http://blog.positiveindians.in/plywood/plywood-advantages-disadvantages.html
DISADVANTAGES

5. The edges also need to be covered with suitable pieces of wood.

6. Costlier compared to blockboards, or particle boards.

in addition to the material cost, the carpentry costs also get added.
7. Manual and Time-consuming process.

8. The adhesives used may be ecologically damaging.

Urea formaldehyde adhesives which were used prior to phenolic resins are not
considered very safe for use, and can also pollute the environment.

9. Not considered as strong as solid wood.

http://blog.positiveindians.in/plywood/plywood-advantages-disadvantages.html
GRADES
Plywood Grade Thickness in mm
MR Grade 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25

BWR Grade 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19, 25

Shuttering Plywood 6, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25

Blockboards 19, 25

Plywood grades are determined by strength, discolorations, surface defects,

and resistance to moisture, among other properties.
The quality of surface veneer, type of wood, and strength of adhesive, will then
be allocated a particular rating.
• Each rating will determine the type of application the plywood is suited for.
• Plywood grades are N, A, B. C, and D.
• The D grade has several surface defects such as graining and knotting, while
the N grade has few of these.
• An “interior C-D” rating for example, indicates the plywood has a grade C
face, and a grade D back. It also means the adhesive is suited for interior
applications.
http://www.understandconstruction.com/plywood.html
GRADES
1. Moisture Resistant (MR) Grade Plywood:

• It is also known as Commercial plywood. It is interior grade plywood and is

used for making indoor furniture.
• The term moisture resistant (MR) may be a little bit confusing in this regard.
But one should note that ‘moisture resistant’ does not mean ‘waterproof’. It
means that the plywood is capable of resisting humidity and moisture.
• The MR plywood is most commonly used for making home and office
furniture.
• It costs more than commercial MR grade ply, but it is better for making
furniture that is likely to get wet i.e. kitchen cabinets.
GRADES
2. Boiling Water Resistant (BWR) Grade Plywood:

 It is waterproof plywood. It is widely used for making home and office furniture
that is likely to get wet. It is exterior grade plywood that can be used for
indoor, semi-outdoor and outdoor use.
 It is better and costlier than MR grade plywood. Along with commercial
MR grade plywood, it is the best selling type of plywood in India.
 It can resist water better than the Interior grade MR (Moisture resistant)
plywood. Phenolic resins are used in its making. Phenol formaldehyde adhesive
(Phenolic resin), which is a synthetic plastic resin, gives the plywood its
waterproofing qualities.
 For Kitchen cabinets and other kitchen furniture, BWR grade is the preferred
choice of plywood.
GRADES
3. Marine Grade Plywood or Boiling Water Proof (BWP) Plywood:

 It is superior grade plywood which is higher in quality and strength as

compared to both MR and BWR grade plywood. It is superior quality plywood
that is used in exterior applications.
 It is mainly used for marine applications.
 Marine plywood is most commonly used in applications where the ply is
going to get a prolonged exposure to water.
 It is the best choice for marine applications such as all the woodwork
required for building ships and boats. It is mainly used in exterior applications
such as boat-building, and not for building stylish furniture.

The other grades of plywood are:

a) Flexible Grade Plywood:
b) Fire Retardant (FR) Grade Plywood
c) Industrial Grade Plywood
TYPES

Type Price Range

Commercial Ply Rs.40/sq. ft. – Rs.189/sq. ft.

Marine Ply Rs.53/sq. ft. – Rs.244/sq. ft.

Fire Safe Ply Rs.55/sq. ft. – Rs.261/sq. ft.

BWR PF Ply Rs.47/sq. ft. – Rs.267/sq. ft.

Shuttering Ply Rs.55/sq. ft. – Rs.255/sq. ft.

Architectural Ply Rs.58/sq. ft. – Rs.336/sq. ft.

Flexible Ply Rs.48/sq. ft. – Rs.138/sq. ft.

 TYPES
1. Structural plywood: Used in permanent structures where high strength is
needed. This includes flooring, beams, formwork, and bracing panels. It can
be made from softwood or hardwood.

2. External plywood: Used on exterior surfaces where a decorative or

aesthetic finish is important. It is not used to bear loads or stress, such as on
exterior door surfaces, and wall cladding.

3. Internal plywood: This has a beautiful finish, for non-structural applications

like wall paneling, ceilings, and furniture.

4. Marine plywood: It is specially treated using preservatives, paint, or varnish,

to resist water damage. It is used in shipbuilding, resists fungal attacks and
does not delaminate.
 USES
Portal frames,
gussets etc.

Light partitions &

flooring external walls

Aircrafts ,
models etc.
packaging
Doors and shutters
Furniture,
cabinets etc.

Boats , ships
formwork
http://design-technology.org/plywood.htm
SIZES
Corresponding Size in mm
Plywood Size in sq. feet
(millimeters)
8′ x 4′ 2449 x 1219
8′ x 3′ 2449 x 914
7′ x 4′ 2134 x 1219
6′ x 4′ 1829 x 1219

6′ x 3′ 1829 x 914

 It is economical and capable of being produced to precise dimensions. The

most commonly manufactured and sold plywood size in India is 2449 x 1219
mm (8 x 4 ft.)
 Other sizes such as 6×3 ft., 6x4ft., 7x3ft., 7x4ft., 8×3 ft. are also available.
 The most common size of plywood is 2449 x 1219 mm (8’x4’).
 The thicknesses may vary based on the types of plywood, its manufacturer
and origin. The thickness of plywood is between 3mm to 25mm.
 The cost of plywood may vary, according to its type and thickness. The cost
is approximate ranges from Rs.50-400/sq.ft. The cost of maintenance is low
to moderate
The following details are generally written on the plywood sheet:
• ISI Mark
• Grade of Plywood
• CM/L Number
• Batch No.
• Type of Plywood
• of Piles
• Thickness of Plywood
• Year of Manufacture

Standard plywood manufacturers in India

• Kitply
• Centuryply
• Greenply
• Sarda Plywood
LAMINATE FINISH VENEER FINISH
DETAILS
Backing wood: 5mm

Wardrobe framework and shutters: 19mm ply

Wardrobe internal partitions and drawers:

commonly used 12mm ply

Marine ply: 13-19mm[kitchen framework]

DETAILS
JOINERY DETAILS
Commonly used joineries are :
1. V groove
2. Nailing ( commonly used now )

Uses of nails
The common nail is most widely used. It has a flat head and is used where
the appearance of the nail head is not objectionable. The length of a
common nail is identified by its "penny" size.
 ADHESIVES
• We define adhesive or glue as a non-metallic material which is able to join 2
substrates using adhesion mechanisms and cohesive mechanism.
• We usually refer to adhesives as the materials which are composed by organic
polymers in a liquid state when applied and become a solid state after further
curing or hardening.
• Adhesives are natural or synthetic binders used for surface coatings.
• Natural binders like plants juices , glues have been in use since prehistoric
ages .
• These have been replaced by synthetic binders derived from plant minerals
and mineral oils.
• These may be applied hot, or as an emulsion, or with a solvent.
• High load bearing adhesives have been developed for engineering
applications. Structural adhesives are based on specially cured rubber-
toughened epoxies, acrylics and silanes.
• Silane resins are used to prevent moisture penetration.
ADVANTAGES
• Adhesives have an advantage over rivets and bolts by distributing stress over
larger areas of joint.
• This reduces galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals and provides the
ability to cement together extremely thin sheets.
• The process of bonding with adhesives is economical.

DISADVANTAGES
• Adhesives lose stability at high temperatures and the resistance to peeling is
poor.
• Special care is to be exercised in their application.
• They take lot of time to form the bond.
 PROPERTIES
Adhesives should have high tensile strength. The important physical properties
of adhesives are cohesive strength, adherence, fluidity, and wettability of the
substrate.

1. Cohesive Strength: Adhesive should have more cohesive being held

together. Usually the adhesive becomes more brittle as its cohesive is
increased.
2. Adherence: For an adhesive to hold two surfaces together the former should
form a strong bond at each of the interfaces between the surface and the
adhesive must have strong cohesive strength. Since adhesive failure occurs
in the weakest bond failure can occur at either interface, as also for cohesive
failure. Failure may occur in the adhesive itself. Clean surfaces are necessary
to get the best results.
PROPERTIES
3. Fluidity: When the liquids are stirred, they become temporarily more fluid
because of alignment of their tiny crystals. The fluid thickens as soon as stirring
is stopped. This property, called
thixotropy of adhesives and paints helps to prevent a sag or run when these
coatings are
applied on vertical surfaces. Since the viscosity decreases with increase in
temperature, an adhesive should be applied while hot.

4. Wettability: Adhesive must wet the surface thoroughly as it spreads. It must be

able to flow into the surface crevices displacing dirt, moisture, and trapped
air. For this purpose the surface tension of adhesive can be lowered by adding
a surfactant wetting agent.
Types of Adhesives based on composition
1. Organic Solvent Thinned Adhesives: are applied to each of the two surfaces and
the solvent is allowed to escape before the two surfaces are put together. Solvents
are classified as
• active and nonpolar, eg, ethyl acetate, methyl ketone,
• poor and polar such as aliphatic paint thinner.
2. Latex Adhesives: are natural or synthetic rubber or vinyl copolymers. These water
dispersed or latex adhesives contain, elastomeric film former, emulsifiers,
thickeners, and antifoaming agents. Examples of synthetic rubber-based adhesives
are styrene butadiene and neoprene.

3. Water-dispersed Adhesives: depend on natural materials for bonding. The bond of

these can be destroyed by soaking in water. The examples are glue made by
hydrolysis of collagen extracted from skin and bones of fish and animals. Natural
adhesives are casein and soybean used in wood working industry. Dextrin
adhesives are made from starch for use with paper products.

4. Two-package Adhesives: In this type of adhesive solvent is not required. The

examples are epoxy adhesives. These are made by using a low-molecular-weight
partially polymerized polymer.
Types of Adhesives
• Epoxy adhesive
• Polyurethane adhesives
• Hot melts
• Phenolic adhesives
• Methacrylate adhesives
Epoxy adhesive
• Epoxy adhesives consist of an epoxy resin and a hardener.
• They form extremely strong durable bonds with most materials.
• Epoxy adhesives are available in one-component or two-component form and
can be supplied as flowable liquids and as films or even in powder form.
• It can also be used as a secondary adhesive to reinforce the wood glue.
• Epoxy adhesives are used to laminate plywood with fiberglass.
• Epoxy resin is an excellent choice for coating bar tops and other frequently
wet wooden surfaces.

Application of Adhesive

• The resin/hardener mix is applied with a spatula to the pretreated and dry joint
surfaces.
• A layer of adhesive 0.05 to 0.10 mm thick will normally impart the greatest lap
shear strength to a joint.
• The joint components should be assembled and clamped as soon as the
adhesive has been applied.
• An even contact pressure throughout the joint area will ensure
optimum cure.
Epoxy adhesive
one-component epoxy adhesives
Excellent adhesion to metals, thermoset and
thermoplastic composites.
High fatigue resistance.
Very high impact resistance.
Excellent chemical resistance
Easy processing.
two-component epoxy adhesives
Excellent adhesion to metals and thermoset
composites
High fatigue resistance
Low shrinkage.
Excellent chemical resistance
High creep resistance
High strength and high stiffness
High temperature resistance (adhesive
specific up to 210°C)
Polyurethane adhesives
They provide strong resilient joints, which are resistant to impacts. They are
useful for bonding FRP (fibre-reinforced plastics) and certain thermoplastic
materials and can be made with a range of curing speeds and supplied as liquids
or as pastes with gap filling capability of up to 25 mm.
Why choose polyurethane adhesives ?
• Excellent adhesion to most composite materials and plastics
• Good adhesion to metals
• Mechanical properties from rigid to flexible
• High fatigue resistance
• Good long-term durability.
• Good UV stability
• Low shrinkage
• Flexible
• Room temperature curing
• Gap filling
• Medium open time
• High strength on metal [copper and brass]
• Adhesion to transparent
• UV stable
• Suitable for bonding a variety of metal and plastic substrates
Hot melts
Based on modern polymers HOT MELTS are primarily used for the rapid
assembly of structures which are subject only to light loads, for example they are
used extensively in the filter industry.

Main Advantages:
• Solvent free, environmentally friendly and no special fire protection required
• Short setting time makes them ideal for high volume applications
• A one-component adhesive, simple to apply via a hand-gun or automated
system
• Low waste
• Easy to store in granule form.
• Offering versatility, range and cost savings for manufacturers.

Performance characteristics include:

• Applied in molten state
• Bond forms rapidly during cooling
• Adhesive is then tack-free
• Can be re-activated by heat.
Phenolic adhesives
Modified phenolics have a long history of successful use for the production of
high strength metal-to-metal and metal-to-wood assemblies.

Used for bonding metal to friction materials, modified phenolic adhesives require
heat and high pressure for the curing process.

Why choose modified phenolic adhesives ?

• Excellent adhesion to metals and friction materials
• Outstanding temperature resistance
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Easy to apply
• Virtually infinite open time once applied.
Methacrylate adhesives
• These adhesives, based on a modified type of acrylic, are fast curing and offer
high strength and toughness.
• Some more specialized types are also available where the components can be
applied in separate operations: the resin component to one surface to be
bonded, the catalyst to the other.
• They tolerate minimal surface preparation and bond well to a wide range of
materials.

PROPERTIES
• Rapid curing
• Toughened
• Multi-purpose
• Excellent bond to a wide range of plastics, composites and metals
• Suitable for service at temperatures up to 100 °C
• Hardener can be applied to substrate and stored for up to 30 days
• Long open time, 60-90 minutes handling strength
• High shear strength
• Bonds well to a wide range of metals and plastic materials
• Excellent chemical resistance
Methacrylate adhesives
Two-component methyl methacrylate adhesives

• Excellent adhesion to metals, thermoset composites and most thermoplastics

No-mix methyl methacrylate adhesives

• Long open-time and rapid cure

• Good adhesion with minimum surface preparation
• High process flexibility
• Suitable for high production speed
• High toughness
Thank you!!