How chipboards are made: equipment and manufacturing technology

Solid wood or chipboard? Pros and cons of materials

Solid wood, chipboard, MDF, fiberboard - what do these terms mean, and how can an unenlightened buyer not get confused by them? What is the furniture around us made of - wardrobes, chests of drawers, cabinets, furniture for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom?

Solid wood

Furniture made of solid wood gives solidity and a noble appearance to the room. Often, this is exclusive furniture made to order.

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naturalness and environmental friendliness of the material;

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natural wood is prone to darkening and is sensitive to dampness and temperature changes;

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expensive and not always available option.

A cheaper analogue is furniture made from wood boards. MDF, chipboard, laminated chipboard, fiberboard are materials based on wood, but in the form of shavings, fibers and sawdust. Most often this is wood processing waste, as well as raw materials obtained during sanitary cutting of trees.

The classic option for furniture production is: the front part is made of MDF, the body is made of laminated chipboard, the back wall is made of fiberboard.

Medium Density Fiberboard

(from the English. Medium Density Fiberboard - MDF -
MDF
). In the production of MDF, the raw materials are ground practically into dust and mixed with organic or non-toxic resins. It is a material that is easy to process, which is very valuable in the manufacture of furniture that requires grace and fine lines.

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the density of the board, which almost matches the density of natural wood, holds screws and other fasteners well;

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ability to produce bent furniture elements

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The stove is immune to microorganisms, mold and fungi.

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reacts painfully to temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius: it swells, warps, and the decorative coating bubbles and peels off, which is why MDF furniture is not recommended to be placed near heating devices;

—

furniture made entirely from MDF is quite expensive, so such boards are most often used only in the production of facades.

Chipboard and laminated chipboard

Chipboard

(the official abbreviation is
DSTP
, colloquially chipboard) is made by hot pressing large chips mixed with a binder - synthetic resin. Chipboard was produced back in the 1930s by the German inventor Max Himmelheber, and in 1951 he received a patent for his invention. “Ideal wood” - that’s what chipboard was called back then for its homogeneous structure and the absence of defects inherent in wood (knots and cracks).

The most common material for the production of cabinet furniture is laminated chipboard.

- or
LDStP
, colloquially LDSP. This is chipboard, onto which decor is glued on both sides, imitating the texture of various types of wood.

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products made from laminated chipboard are resistant to moisture due to the laminating coating, in contrast to the solid wood counterpart described above. Furniture products made from laminated chipboard are as convenient as possible during operation: they can be easily cleaned and washed with usual detergents. Although, of course, it is better to avoid abrasive preparations, they can ruin the surface;

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low price with a large number of color solutions;

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the material is not suitable for creating bent furniture elements;

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The main negative characteristic of particle boards is the presence of formaldehyde resins, which, in high concentrations, have a negative effect on human health. That is why it is necessary to ensure that the finished product contains as few uncoated areas of chipboard as possible.

Since 1986, an international scale has been in force that determines the emission class of wood-tile materials. It regulates the content of free formaldehyde in the products of manufacturing companies. The following international classification has been adopted: formaldehyde-free board of emission class E0.5 is used in the production of special furniture, for example, medical and children's furniture. Furniture made from chipboard with emission class E1 is approved by all Western countries, Ukraine and Russia for use in residential premises

. Chipboard with emission class E2 is prohibited for use in residential premises by the ministries of health of all European countries. EZ - wood boards suitable only for use in construction.

Fiberboard and fiberboard

Fiberboard

or
fiberboard,
in common parlance - hardboard. The composition is similar to MDF, but is less dense and thick, and does not have a decorative finish. The use of such a board in the production of furniture makes the product more affordable.

Treated fiberboard

or
DVPO.
A slab, one side of which is painted in a single color or imitates wood. The scope of application of such a plate in the manufacture of furniture is limited: the back walls of cabinets, the bottoms of drawers and other parts that do not involve a large load.

What is chipboard made of?

The basis for the production of particle boards is a process in which sawdust is mixed with a special adhesive mass and the resulting mixture is pressed under high pressure and high temperature. The great advantage of making chipboard is the use of sawmill waste.

Pressed slabs have good strength, created by mixing the sawdust mixture with glue (resin) hardened to the state of stone. To produce environmentally friendly types of material, an adhesive mass of minimal toxicity is used.

The production of chipboards can occur on a small scale. In general, only the size of the produced slabs is limited, which should be no more than 50 x 50 centimeters.

The production of chipboard at home is the same process as on an industrial scale, but in miniature. All stages where automation should be involved are replaced by manual work.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the material:

1. Easy to install. Chipboards are easy to process and can be cut with a hand saw or an electric jigsaw. Installation is carried out on a leveled base or frame. But when working with decorative variations, trimming may require special equipment to achieve clean edges.
2. Acceptable strength. This indicator is determined by the density: the higher it is, the stiffer the product. The resulting cladding withstands mechanical loads well.
3. Decorative. Existing options significantly expand the scope of use of the material and allow you to create an attractive appearance.
4. Low thermal conductivity. This indicator is determined from the density of the parts; the coefficient varies from 0.11 to 0.23 W/(m °C) under normal operating conditions.
5. Price. The price of the product depends on its characteristics, but remains quite affordable.

Despite the fairly wide gradation of particle boards: according to purpose, density and other parameters, the price of the material remains affordable.
Disadvantages of chipboard:

• Various environmental parameters. The sheet contains formaldehyde resins. Their number is strictly limited, but for finishing work it is better to use options completely covered with decorative film.
• The need for proper fastening. The structure of the material does not have integrity, so the fixation points should not be located close to the edge. To avoid damage to the front part (especially when working with decorative varieties), preliminary drilling is carried out.
• Impossibility of complex finishing. Curly cutting can only be done using special equipment. The surface is not amenable to large-scale milling.
• Low water resistance. This disadvantage applies to standard products that are not used in wet areas. If it is necessary to perform decorative work, the edges must be closed.

With prolonged exposure to moisture on chipboard, the material loses strength, swells and begins to crumble, and it is no longer possible to restore the board

When purchasing material, you need to check for certificates of conformity.

Types and scope

There are many types of particle boards. First of all, they are divided by area of ​​application:

• Construction Can be used both inside and outside. Must be durable, moisture-resistant, resistant to the spread of fungi and bacteria. To obtain these characteristics, additional components are introduced into the chips during mixing. It can be polished or unpolished - appearance is not always important.
• General purpose. Suitable for indoor use as it is not moisture or bio-resistant. Slabs of this type are usually used to make furniture and are used for interior finishing work.
• Special. This material is made to special order. Upon request, slabs can have certain sizes or special properties (fire resistance, increased bio- or moisture resistance).

  
  The purpose of chipboard is determined by its characteristics

As you understand, for each type of work it makes sense to choose a certain type of chipboard. This will allow you to optimize costs - not to spend too much, but also not to skimp on quality.

Decorative materials based on chipboard

General purpose slabs can have a decorative coating. They are first polished on special machines, then covered with a decorative coating:

• Melamine film followed by a layer of varnish. The process is called laminating, and the material is called laminated. The letter “K” is added in front of the name.
• Melamine paper, but on machines under pressure and at high temperatures. The film is glued (rather, fused) at temperatures from 150°C to 210°C. The process is called lamination, the material is laminated, the letter “L” is added to the name - laminated chipboard. This coating significantly increases water resistance and improves appearance. Such boards are used for making furniture and for interior decoration.
• Veneer. Veneer is the finest cut of natural wood. It is glued to the surface of the plate, then covered with a layer of varnish. In appearance it is indistinguishable from natural wood; it is used for making furniture and for interior decoration.

Laminated chipboard
For the uninitiated, it can be difficult to understand which is better: chipboard, laminated chipboard or veneered boards. The worst option is laminated chipboards. The varnish is quickly erased, then the thin paper with the applied pattern is wiped. The product is damaged and cannot be restored.

The other two types - laminated chipboard and veneered chipboard - are approximately the same in terms of coating reliability, but veneered chipboard has lower moisture resistance and is also much more expensive. Despite the fact that modern technologies make it possible to very accurately reproduce the surface of wood, stone, and other natural materials, paying a high price for veneer coating is not very reasonable.

Chipboard varieties

There are chipboard slabs of 1st grade, 2nd grade, as well as non-grade slabs, used, as a rule, for construction purposes. The main differences between grades 1 and 2:

No protrusions or depressions, resin or paraffin stains are allowed on the first grade chipboard board;

On a first-grade chipboard slab, chipping of edges and chipping of corners is not allowed (with the exception of single chips (chipping) up to 3 mm and extending along the edge up to 15 mm); on a second-grade chipboard slab, chipping of the edges is allowed within the limits of deviations along the length (width) of the slab;

there may be grinding defects on the surface of the second grade chipboard slab (no more than 10% of the area);

On the surface of a chipboard slab of the second grade, inclusions of bark and large fractions of chips may be present to a greater extent compared to the first grade.

We advise you to study - Screw piles: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

Notes[edit | edit code]

1. ↑ V. E. Kuznetsov Furniture Maker's Directory. Designs and functional dimensions. Materials. Production technology. - M.: Timber Industry, 1985.
2. ↑ A. A. Bartashevich. Furniture design. - Mn.: Modern School, 2006. - ISBN 985-6751-31-4.
3. ↑ Both abbreviations are used to designate these plates - chipboard (incorrectly) and DSTP (officially). The first option is much more common, although in regulatory documents chipboard is used (since chipboard by that time was already used to designate wood-laminated plastics).
4. ↑ GOST 27935-88 “Fibreboards and particle boards. Terms and Definitions".
5. ↑ Ofitserova L.I. Structures made of wood and plastics: a course of lectures for students of construction specialties. Part 2. - Tomsk: STT, 2006. - P. 94.
6. ↑ 12
   John I. Zerbem, Zhiyong Cai, George B. Harpole. An Evolutionary History of Oriented Strandboard (OSB) // United States Department of Agriculture, 2015.
7. ↑ 12
   GOST 10632-2014 “Wood-based particle boards. Technical specifications"
8. ↑ Both within one slab and within a batch of slabs
9. ↑ V. Strelkov, V. Bardonov. Accurate to one hundredth?. // Furniture business No. 1, 2013
10. ↑ Extruded chipboards - light and elegant // LesPromInform No. 6 (55), 2008.
11. ↑ GOST 32289-2013 “Particle boards lined with films based on thermosetting polymers. Technical specifications"
12. ↑ Extrusion chipboards: full face and profile // “LesPromInform” No. 9 (58), 2008.

Technical characteristics of chipboard

This material is produced in sizes that comply with GOST 10632-2007.

• The length of products can vary from 1830 mm to 5680 mm.
• Width – from 1220 to 2500 mm.
• Thickness from 3 mm.

There are 2 main grades of material.

P-A.

High-quality material that can withstand bending and tensile loads and exposure to moisture. It is this material that chipboard is faced with.

This brand has lower characteristics and is not subjected to cladding.

The main technical characteristics of chipboard are density, water absorption, hygroscopicity. Today it has been proven that density is not the main indicator affecting the strength of a material. Much more important is its ability to hold fasteners. And this property is directly related to the quality of the surface. If it is smooth, without flaws, and strong, then the entire slab will cope well with the loads.

The density of the material depends on the thickness of the slab:

• 8 mm – 740 kg/m³;
• 10 mm – 720 kg/m³;
• 20 mm – 670 kg/m³;
• 30 mm – 620 kg/m³;
• 38 mm – 600 kg/m³.

Water absorption depends on the type of slab, its density, and the number of binding components. If urea-formaldehyde resins are added, then the product will absorb from 30 to 90% of moisture per day. This will reduce the strength of the products by 3 times. If the composition contains hydrophobic components, then the technical characteristics of the chipboard associated with the ability to contact with water will increase significantly.

Hygroscopicity is another characteristic that shows how a material absorbs moisture from the air. The equilibrium moisture content of chipboard is lower than that of plain wood. This means that when placed in a room with high humidity, the material will have a higher equilibrium humidity than under normal conditions.

Characteristics and dimensions

The technical characteristics of chipboard depend on the brand and type of product . They can vary within the following limits:

• sheet thickness - 10-40 mm;
• residual humidity - 5-9%;
• thermal conductivity coefficient - 0.08-0.26 W/(mhdeg);
• specific heat capacity - 1.65-1.85 kJ/(kg deg);
• water absorption - 11-87%;
• swelling (per day) in thickness - 4-28%;
• bending strength - more than 11-26MPa.

Taking into account the structure and properties of the material, chipboard is classified into the following categories:

1. By design: single-, three- and multi-layer sheets of particle boards.
2. Brands according to basic technical characteristics (strength, moisture resistance, tendency to deformation) - P1 and P2 .
3. The grade provides a division according to quality: first grade - polished surface with perfect smoothness, without visible defects; straight cuts; exact size match, main purpose – furniture manufacturing; the second grade is assigned when the first grade of chipboard is rejected according to some parameters; small chips on cuts and scratches on the surface are allowed; third grade - cheap chipboard of low quality with noticeable defects in the form of chips, cracks, and edge defects. It is used in construction for the construction of non-critical structures.
4. According to the structure of the outer layer : fine-grained surface - it is well suited for lamination with polymer films; ordinary, standard sheets (medium grain) - when making furniture panels they are used for veneering; coarse-grained surface - such chipboards are more often used in construction.
5. Surface treatment. According to the level of processing, polished and unpolished slabs are distinguished.
6. The emission class is determined by the formaldehyde content , i.e. if possible, the release of this dangerous substance: class E1 - the content of free formaldehyde should not exceed 0.1 mg per 1 g of chipboard; in any circumstances, its release will not exceed the permissible limit, and therefore this material can be safely used in residential premises (even for children's furniture ); class E2 - content is limited to 0.3 mg for every 1 g of product. Use with caution.
7. Water resistance . The following types of material are distinguished: standard plate with index A - deformation in water for 24 hours - 20-22%; standard chipboard with index B – deformation 30-33%; waterproof material - deformation does not exceed 16% (paraffin additives are used to increase moisture resistance).
8. Fire resistance . Conventional chipboard is a combustible material. The fire-resistant version is made by introducing special additives - fire retardants . Domestic chipboards are not produced in a fire-resistant variety.
9. Based on specific gravity , chipboards differ in low (no more than 540 kg/mm³), medium (540-760 kg/m³) and high (over 760 kg/mm³) densities.

Chipboard sheets are available in different sizes, which allows you to choose a product based on your real needs. The thickness of the slabs starts from 1 mm and has a gradation of 1 mm up to 40 mm .

The thickness variation for sanded sheets does not exceed 0.3 mm, and for unsanded sheets it can be in the range of 0.4-1.6 mm (depending on the thickness). The minimum dimensions of the slabs are 1.2x1.8 m, and the maximum dimensions are not limited.

Moisture-resistant particle board

• dimensions: 2440x1830 (mm), 2500x1830 (mm), 2800x2070 (mm), 3060x1220 (mm);
• thickness: 12 (mm), 16 (mm), 18 (mm), 22 (mm), 26 (mm), 38 (mm);
• slabs must comply with moisture resistance classes P3, P4, P5.

Moisture-resistant chipboard is considered an ideal building material for leveling wall surfaces and working with roofing. The light weight and high density of the sheet (820 kg/m3) will provide an advantage when creating an insulating layer inside the roof.

Moisture-resistant boards, when exposed to moisture, swell by only 10% during the day.

Laminated particle board

• length: 2620 mm, 2800 mm;
• width: 1830 mm, 2070 mm;
• thickness: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, 18mm, 22mm, 25mm, 28mm.

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Plates with a thickness of 8 mm to 18 mm are mainly used for the manufacture of furniture elements that will be subject to minimal loads ( wardrobes, MDF frame facades, sliding doors for wardrobes ).

Thicker slabs, from 22 mm to 28 mm, can withstand increased loads. They are more suitable for constructing kitchen tables or countertops .

The main disadvantage of laminated chipboard is considered to be insufficient moisture resistance and deformation in high-temperature environments.

MDF kitchens ↑

The ability to bend the panel transforms utilitarian standard kitchens into spaces that are not devoid of personality and are more suitable for their owners

This is especially important when the kitchen is small: there is no opportunity to play with the arrangement of furniture or the introduction of original details - only the form remains, and MDF ensures its variability

These curved facades are not the work of software at all. The doors are made of perforated MDF - a kitchen that is ordinary in all respects with a standard arrangement of furniture looks extraordinary thanks to the rounded cabinets. And this is the simplest option of all possible.

What in this kitchen in the photo is made of wood? It's likely nothing. Even a log may turn out to be plastic (or polystone, which perfectly imitates any natural materials). The floor, ceiling and furniture fronts (we remind you: the material can be milled) are made of MDF.

Here's some great country music. Either natural wood or MDF can hold glass (especially stained glass) - laminated chipboard will crumble a little faster than instantly. When working with MDF, the master is spared from endless trials in search of the only desired shade (the paintwork, when placed on natural wood, changes color in accordance with the tone and texture of the base), and the customer is spared from exorbitant expenses.

White carved facades - you can make them from solid wood, painting them and thereby destroying the texture of the wood, or you can avoid blasphemy by giving preference to MDF.

We don’t dare judge how good the floral patterns on furniture facades are (a matter of taste), but it’s almost impossible to depict something similar on laminated chipboard: it will look dingy, since laminated chipboard is processed at the production stage, and MDF is processed after, additionally, which expands the capabilities of designers to almost limitless.

You can make almost any kitchen out of MDF (almost - because there is also stainless steel) - realize a bold idea, create something truly original and enjoy the result every day. Only an array can be better (and even then not always). In our opinion, only an acute lack of funds and an equally urgent need for furniture can drive us into the framework of chipboard. But this solution will be temporary (the furniture will quickly peel off). Make the right choices.

Classification[edit | edit code]

• Construction: based on the number of layers, chipboard is divided into single-layer, three-layer and multi-layer.
• Brand: depending on the bending strength, deformation, water resistance, susceptibility to warping and deformation, chipboard is divided into 2 grades: P2 and P1.
• Grade: depending on the criteria for the appearance of the slab (cracks, chips, staining, stains, protrusions and depressions), chipboard slabs are divided into 1st grade (defects other than minimal ones are not acceptable), 2nd grade (large surface defects are acceptable) and without grades (cardinal surface defects, used in construction).
• Outer layer: slabs with a fine-grained surface (possible lining with polymer materials), regular (veneered veneer is used) and coarse-grained (used in construction) are distinguished.
• Level of surface treatment: sanded and unsanded chipboard are distinguished.
• Formaldehyde emission class: according to the content of free formaldehyde in 100 g of dry chipboard, classes E1 (less than 10 mg), E2 (from 10 to 30 mg) are distinguished.
• Water resistance: in addition to the fact that the P2 brand board has better water-resistant properties (22% deformation versus 33% for P1 when immersed in water for a day), there is a separate type of waterproof chipboard intended for the production of furniture and specific construction work.
• Fire resistance: when fire retardants are added to the chipboard composition, the board acquires fire-resistant characteristics. Now [ when?
  ] production of this type of chipboard is not carried out on the territory of the Russian Federation.
• Density: according to density, chipboard is divided into low-density board (less than 550 kg/m³), medium (550-750 kg/m³) and high-density (more than 750 kg/m³).
• By pressing method: flat or extrusion pressing.

Classification

One of the first parameters that people pay attention to is the type of surface treatment. There are 2 options: sanded and unpolished slabs. They differ in the quality of the coating, which determines the area of ​​application of the material. In addition, the slabs are distinguished by structure:

• ordinary (designated by the first letter – O);
• fine-textured (M).

The second option is used in the production of laminated boards. This is due to the fact that the film adheres better to the surface of such a product.

Surface quality

Slabs of different types are produced, differing in the number of defects:

• 1st grade – without changes in the structure of the material, defects;
• Grade 2 – a certain amount of damage is acceptable (regulated by regulatory documentation).

Due to average strength and moisture resistance, chipboard with more significant defects is not used, since it will not perform its main functions. The service life of the material will be significantly reduced.

Emission class

There are types of stoves that differ in the degree of danger to human health. They contain varying amounts of toxic components (in particular formaldehyde):

• E0.5;
• E1;
• E2.

Is chipboard harmful?

If it is necessary to use the material indoors, only the first two options are considered. The concentration of formaldehyde in the structure of the binder component and when released into the surrounding space is minimal and is considered acceptable. However, the rule here is: the less, the better, so option E0.5 is preferable.

Strength level

There are types:

• P1 – general purpose;
• P2 – products intended for the manufacture of furniture and finishing work indoors.

The second option is more durable, so the scope of application of the slabs of this group is wider. P1 products are more often used for rough finishing, temporary structures or as auxiliary material. The strength of chipboard varies: 550-750 cubic meters. m. At the same time, the range of density values ​​is also different: 0.5-1.0 g/cubic. see. Tensile strength is also taken into account:

• when bending – 10-25 MPa;
• when stretching - 0.2-03.5 MPa.

VALUE AND SYNOPSIS OF THE SYSTEM

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We advise you to study - Where to start renovating a bathroom - competent organization of renovation work

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General requirements for care and operation

When choosing a place for furniture made of MDF or laminated chipboard in the kitchen, you must take into account that both materials are resistant to temperatures above 75 ℃. When exposed to high heat, the coating begins to peel off. For this reason, heating devices should not be placed in close proximity to furniture.

If a furniture set is constantly illuminated by the bright sun, then it may simply fade and lose its attractiveness. Chipboard lamination is especially susceptible to fading.

Severe wetting of the slabs is undesirable, although they can withstand short-term exposure to water well, which is why they are used for sinks and other kitchen furniture. Much depends on the quality of the material. There are often cases when laminated chipboard sheets begin to become saturated with water, swell, and crumble. Such furniture takes on a terrible appearance, is destroyed, and becomes completely unusable.

General rules of care are:

• wipe the dust with a dry cloth or a special compound for plastic;
• promptly remove moisture from the surface with an absorbent sponge;
• do not overload hooks and shelves so that fasteners do not break off;
• Do not use waxes and mastics intended for polished wood.

The last point is worth focusing on. Wood polishes are not suitable for MDF and laminated chipboard.

The laminated film may change color under their influence and even peel off. You should also not use acids, alkalis, or abrasives.

Both types of slabs are resistant to pests and mold. In a dry room, they can stand for decades without any additional treatment without collapsing. They are used to make beds, tables, cabinets, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelves, and all kinds of kitchen cabinets.

How to choose the right chipboard?

Today there are a considerable number of chipboards for various purposes. Their differences lie in thickness, composition, wear resistance, and density. Such features are associated with use in different areas of plate production. There is a stereotype about the density of the slab. It is believed that the denser it is, the better. But it is not so. The advantage of these boards is the low-cost raw materials (low-grade wood). This includes “thin gauges”, slabs, slats. The main thing is that these materials meet the following standards.

1. Chip fractions should not be small.
2. The cross-section of the chips should be square and petal-shaped. If these requirements are violated, the physical and chemical properties of the finished slab will deteriorate (bending and resistance will suffer).

Laminated chipboard has a wide range of colors, which is widely used in the production of cabinet furniture.

Consumers often ask questions: what kind of material is this for a bed - MDF? What is the difference between MDF and laminated chipboard for furniture? Let's consider these nuances in more detail.

The film is paper impregnated with melamine resins, which is why you can often find the term “melamine board”.

Advantages of chipboard:

• low price;
• does not dry out, does not flake, does not mold;
• thanks to chemical additives, bugs do not live in the stove;
• service life more than 10 years.

Pros of MDF:

• reasonable price for consumers with average incomes;
• strength;
• moisture resistance;
• includes all of the above advantages of chipboard.

Laminated chipboard can be washed and cleaned - it is moisture resistant.

The choice of material depends on what you plan to make. Laminated chipboard can be used in the manufacture of furniture intended for offices, homes, shops, and supermarkets. MDF is better to choose for children's furniture.

He is also not afraid of high temperatures.

The production of fibreboards allows us to produce products at affordable prices for various interiors. Thanks to MDF and laminated chipboard furniture, every home will be filled with coziness, warmth and comfort.

Its advantage, in addition to all of the above, is its excellent ability to imitate various textures, most often imitation of wood texture.

Pay attention to formaldehyde content standards in cabinet furniture

How to choose chipboard

We will talk here about uncoated slabs. Using the tips below, you will learn how to choose chipboard , what criteria should be followed.

• Markings on the end of the slabs will allow you to select a composite of the required quality with the required characteristics. If there is nothing on the end, then perhaps the manufacturer has marked its products on top of the pack packaging, or there is no marking at all. In the latter case, you either take a “pig in a poke” or look for another seller.
• The ability to determine the emission class of formaldehyde exists only in a laboratory, but to a rough approximation you can use your nose, or rather, your sense of smell. If the smell of chemicals is clearly noticeable at a meter distance, then the emission is very significant, regardless of the specified class.
• Inspect the slab, paying attention to the texture of the chips, the presence of peeling of the upper layers and excessive dryness, and evaluate the porosity. If the slab is three-layer, then the inner layer should consist of large chips (clearly visible at the end), then the screws will hold tighter. The presence of peeling indicates a violation of the production technology. If, in your opinion, the surface is overdried, then the slab has low strength characteristics. You can check the slab for porosity using any suitable object in your pockets - a key, a pen. Using a little force, try to push it into each edge. If this can be done easily, then the slab is of low quality.
• Rate chipboard by color. The ideal case is when each slab in a pack is a single color, light in color. A reddish tint indicates that rotted wood chips were used. Although such a slab cannot be faced, it is nevertheless of sufficient quality. A dark color means there is a lot of bark in the slab or that it was “overcooked” during pressing. This chipboard is of low strength and is only suitable for construction needs. If the slabs in a stack differ in color, this means that they have different physical and chemical characteristics.
• You can only check the entire stack of chipboards for changes in thickness. If an even package looks crooked, it means that there are differences in thickness of some part of the slabs.

What is MDF ↑

MDF, MDF - MediumDensityFibreboard (medium density fiberboard 600–800 kg/m3). The same board of wood particles, produced by dry pressing under high pressure and temperature conditions. Urea resins containing formaldehyde are used as a binder, but the emission of harmful substances is much lower than that of chipboard and is comparable to that of natural wood. Significant reductions in emissions are achieved by modifying resins with melamine.

MDF

The resin is produced in several stages:

• polycondensation in an alkaline environment;
• polycondensation in an acidic environment;
• additional introduction of urea and drying until the required viscosity is achieved;
• cooling;
• modification.

Synthesis requires compliance with the temperature regime - 88–94°. The resin is modified at a temperature of 40–50°.

Despite the same raw materials, MDF is very different from chipboard (without taking into account the difference in emission values): the material can be milled and deformed, which opens up the possibility of producing carved furniture facades, furniture and other designs of radial shapes.

Milled part

MDF is divided into four types according to operating conditions (humidity, temperature). The first type is used for the manufacture of office and home cabinet furniture and commercial equipment (normal conditions), the second - kitchen furniture (humidity, steam), the third - structural elements (normal conditions, high load), the fourth - structural elements (high humidity, high loads) ).

During the production process of slabs, they are given fire resistance, water resistance, and biostability (protection from fungi and bacteria). MDF requires additional processing of the front surface. According to the type of processing, the material is divided into:

1. Veneered: thin natural veneer is glued to the front (sometimes also the inside) surface; this is an expensive type, and the price varies depending on the value of the type of wood used to make the veneer.
2. Painted: surfaces (one or both) are coated with paint or enamel
3. Laminated: the front side is covered with PVC film - matte or glossy, imitating various surfaces (wood, natural stone, marble, etc.); The film is applied under pressure at high temperature.

Surface treatment improves the physical and mechanical characteristics of the material, its operational and aesthetic properties.

Painted glossy slab - examples of some shades and curves

All types of MDF are in equal demand - each has its own niche. Material with a front surface made of natural veneer is used to make good office furniture and commercial equipment, furniture for kitchens, living rooms, and hallways. The cheaper one, laminated with a film that imitates wood, is used in the production of the already listed, but relatively inexpensive mass-market furniture.

The material was developed specifically for creating curved surfaces, which are actively used in modern design. MDF can be milled - this is precisely the quality that is used in the manufacture of flexible boards: parallel slots are made on one side, due to which the panel can be bent to a certain radius (depending on the thickness); the other side remains flat. In this way, surfaces of varying complexity are obtained - from a banal circle to a wavy one with different radii of each wave. This type of MDF is called perforated MDF (not to be confused with perforated HDF). The material opens up almost limitless possibilities in furniture design.

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Not a single flat facade - all with one radius or another

Types of particle boards

Particle boards are classified according to a number of criteria. This is the purpose, safety class, finishing coating.

Classification by safety class

The safety class of chipboard is the content of free formaldehyde in it. The smaller it is, the safer the material, the wider the scope of its application. There are three classes of wood-based panels.

• E2 - they are not used indoors, since the formaldehyde content ranges from 10-30 mg for every 100 g of material.
• E1 – it is assigned if there is no more than 10 mg of formaldehyde per similar weight. This is acceptable for finishing walls with chipboard boards in living rooms.
• Super E is the safest type of chipboard, which is suitable for decorating even children's rooms.

This classification is relevant for slabs of domestic and foreign production.

Useful: Basic and auxiliary components of a frame house

Classification by processing method

The surface of the slabs can be polished or unpolished. The first option is used for painting, applying plaster, and also wallpapering. The second is in cases where a perfectly flat base is not needed for finishing. The surface also differs in structure. For wall finishing, only fine-textured slabs . Material with a coarse-grained structure is suitable for construction work.

Additional processing helps improve the performance properties of chipboard.

• Laminating is the application of a protective layer of paper impregnated with polymer compounds.
• Lamination is the application of PVC film to a wood surface. Helps to increase the moisture resistance of the material , make it easier to care for, and resistance to chemical compounds. It is marked laminated chipboard.
• Veneering is the covering of chipboard with natural wood veneer and its subsequent varnishing.

Please note: walls made of laminated chipboard are finished not only in living rooms, but also in rooms with high humidity - in kitchens, in the bathroom.

Scope of application of particle boards

Depending on the load-bearing capacity, moisture resistance, and bending strength, five grades of chipboard are distinguished. P1 brand material is suitable for work in rooms with normal humidity and good ventilation. Cannot withstand load bearing . When the thickness increases from 30 to 40 mm, the bending strength decreases by half.

P2 brand material is suitable for wall decoration. It is designed for dry rooms, has strict geometry and a surface without roughness. For rooms with humidity up to 85%, chipboard grades P3, P5, P7 are used. Of these, only P3 slabs are not able to withstand load-bearing loads.

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Chipboard safety.

How dangerous is chipboard to health? During operation, chipboard releases aromatic volatile substances into the premises, in particular phenols. Therefore, it is believed that chipboard can cause harm to the health of people living in the premises. Indeed, the substances released by chipboard are, to put it mildly, not good for health. Painting and lamination reduce the emission of harmful substances. Modern chipboard must meet environmental standards that impose strict restrictions on the emission of harmful volatile substances.

So, when deciding to use chipboard, consider the relative harmfulness of this material, but also keep in mind that the standard alternative to chipboard - natural wood - also emits harmful substances. The environmental safety of wood is actually a beautiful myth. The emission of harmful substances from wood is several times higher than the emission from high-quality chipboard. Good chipboard is less harmful than wood. Harmful emissions from chipboard are caused by the presence of crushed wood in it, not adhesives. The adhesives used in modern production are completely safe and non-toxic. Wood is not a safe alternative to chipboard, wood is even more dangerous than good chipboard.

If you want zero emissions, then you need metal furniture. If you decide to use chipboard, be sure to have an environmental certificate. In any case, the premises must be regularly ventilated so that the concentrations of harmful substances in them do not reach dangerous values.

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Subtleties of production

Chipboard is an abbreviation for particle board. The material is made from crushed wood; illiquid wood, which is unsuitable for other work, is used as a raw material. It is crushed to the state of sawdust, then the sawdust is dried and mixed with formaldehyde resins, which combine this entire mass into monolithic slabs. The plates are pressed and treated at high temperatures.

Production technology: main stages

Chipboard is made from waste from the wood processing industry - sawdust, small shavings. Non-commercial wood, re-grade wood, trimmings, etc. can be shredded. The production process is as follows:

• The chips are sorted by size - for normal chipboard strength, the board contains several layers of chips of different sizes. Larger chips are placed inside, and smaller chips are placed around the edges. The multilayer material is more durable, and the fine chips are more aesthetically pleasing.
• The finished shaving carpet is pressed - crimped, checking the required parameters, and changes are made if necessary.
• They are fed into a press, where at high temperature and high pressure the chips are transformed into a monolithic material.
• Cut to size and cool.
• They are sorted by grade, stored or sent for grinding, lamination and other processing methods.

This is one technology, but it may change. For example, in the production of single-layer chipboard, large chips are additionally crushed, for which special equipment is used.

Formaldehyde emission class

If there is an insufficient amount of natural binder (contained in sufficient quantities in conifers), synthetic binders are added to the chips during production. These are mainly phenolic and phenol-formaldehyde resins. Since they contain volatile substances that in large quantities have a harmful effect on humans (formaldehyde), a classification has been developed according to the degree of emission of this substance.

Each batch of material, based on the results of laboratory tests, is assigned a specific class. E0.5 is the safest material that is approved for use in children's institutions. E1 is also considered safe and suitable for use in residential areas. Higher classes - E2, E3 and E4 can only be used for external work or as temporary materials (for example, when creating removable formwork for concrete).

Also, during the production of chipboard, substances can be introduced into the chips that increase the moisture resistance of the boards. In the “original” version, chipboard does not get along well with moisture, so the usual material is not used for outdoor work, but is only applicable for rooms with normal humidity levels. By adding paraffin or its emulsion, water resistance increases significantly (15% warpage versus 22% or 33% for normal types of different classes).

Production Features

Waste from wood processing enterprises, sawmills, and logging organizations is used as wood raw material in production.
Low-quality and rejected wood, slabs, knots, shavings, sawdust, chips, etc. are used.

The chipboard manufacturing technology includes the following stages:

1. Grinding raw materials to the state of chips of a certain size - thickness no more than 0.6 mm; width – up to 9 mm; length – 4-42 mm. It has a flat shape and uniform thickness. When forming slabs, the chips are distributed so that the smallest particles end up in the outer layer.
2. Drying chips in drum-type devices. The final residual moisture does not exceed 5-7% for outer layers and 3-4% for inner layers.
3. Sorting chips by size.
4. Mixing wood parts with synthetic filler (resinizing chips). The binder is supplied to special mixers in the form of a solution, where it should cover each chip.
5. Formation of structure. The tarred shavings are evenly placed in several layers on conveyor belts. This continuous stream is then divided into packets of the desired size.
6. Primary pressing (pre-pressing). After passing through the press, the mass is compacted and reduced to a size that is 3-4 times greater than the final thickness of the chipboard. Pre-pressing is carried out at a pressure of 1.5-3.5 MPa.
7. Final pressing. It is provided in multi-story hydraulic devices. The operation is carried out at a pressure of 3-4 MPa and a temperature of 175-185 °C. The duration of exposure is determined at the rate of 20 s for every 1 mm of sheet thickness. The multi-storey design of the equipment allows for the simultaneous pressing of more than 20 slabs.
8. Cooling and final formation of slab dimensions.
9. Storage of finished products in stacks for 100-120 hours.
10. Grinding and surface treatment in the manufacture of certain brands of chipboard.

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When producing 1 m³ of chipboard, the average consumption of materials is: wood waste – 1.8-1.9 m³; synthetic resin – 75-85 kg.

Chipboard sheets can also be made with your own hands if you have a press capable of providing the specified characteristics. The fundamentally simplified technology differs little from the factory one and is based on manual molding of the structure.

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