Medium-density fibreboard

A sample of MDF
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down
hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax
and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure.[1] MDF is
generally denser than plywood. It is made up of separated fibres, but can be used as a building
material similar in application to plywood. It is stronger and much denser than particle board.[2]
The name derives from the distinction in densities of fibreboard. Large-scale production of MDF
began in the 1980s, in both North America and Europe.[3]

Contents

1 Physical properties

2 Types

3 Manufacture

4 Comparison with natural woods

o 4.1 Benefits
o 4.2 Drawbacks

5 Applications

6 Safety concerns

7 Veneered MDF

Physical properties
Over time, the term MDF has become a generic name for any dry process fibre board. MDF is
typically made up of 82% wood fibre, 9% urea-formaldehyde resin glue, 8% water and 1%
paraffin wax.[4] and the density is typically between 500 kg/m3 (31 lb/ft3) and 1,000 kg/m3
(62 lb/ft3).[5] 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. 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.

Types
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 600800 kg/m or 0.0220.029 lb/in3, in contrast to particle board (160
450 kg/m) and to high-density fibreboard (6001,450 kg/m).

Manufacture
Medium-density fibreboard output in 2005
The main species of tree used for MDF is plantation-grown pine; but 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 through the
chipping process. A typical disk chipper contains 416 blades. Any resulting chips that are too
large may be re-chipped; undersized chips may be used as fuel. The chips are then washed and
checked for defects.
The chips are then compacted using a screw feeder, are heated/steamed for 30120 seconds to
soften the wood, then joined with liquefied wax and fed into a defibrator. The defibrator
maintains a high pressure and temperature while grinding the wood chips into a pulp.
From the defibrator, the pulp enters a blowline, where it is joined with resin, often ureaformaldehyde. The wax improves moisture resistance and the resin initially helps reduce
clumping, but ultimately is the primary binding agent. The material dries quickly when it enters

an expansion chamber and expands into a fine, fluffy and lightweight fibre that is stored until
needed at the forming line.
Dry fibre gets sucked into the top of a pendistor, which evenly distributes fibre into a uniform
mat below it, usually of 230610 mm thickness. The mat is pre-compressed and either sent
straight to a continuous hot press or cut into large sheets for a multi-opening hot press. The hot
press activates the bonding resin and sets the strength and density profile.
After pressing, MDF is cooled in a star dryer or cooling carousel, trimmed and sanded. In certain
applications, boards are also laminated for extra strength.
The Environmental Impact of MDF has greatly improved over the years.[citation needed] Today, many
MDF boards are made from a variety of materials. These include other woods, scrap, recycled
paper, bamboo, carbon fibres and polymers, forest thinnings and sawmill off-cuts.
As manufacturers are being pressured to come up with greener products, they have started testing
and using non-toxic binders. New raw materials are being introduced. Straw and bamboo are
becoming popular fibres because they are a fast-growing renewable resource.

Comparison with natural woods

MDF does not contain knots or rings, making it more uniform than natural woods during cutting
and in service.[6] 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.
MDF may be glued, doweled or laminated. Typical fasteners are T-nuts and pan-head machine
screws.[7] 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.

Benefits

Is an excellent substrate for veneers.

Some varieties are less expensive than many natural woods

Isotropic (its properties are the same in all directions as a result of no grain), so no
tendency to split

Consistent in strength and size

Shapes well.

Stable dimensions (won't expand or contract like wood)

Easy to finish (i.e., paint)

Drawbacks/ disadvantages.

Denser than plywood or chipboard (the resins are heavy)

Low grade MDF may swell and break when saturated with water.

May warp or expand if not sealed.

May release formaldehyde, which is a "known human carcinogen"[8] and may cause
allergy, eye and lung irritation when cutting and sanding[9] associated with nasal sinus
cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, and possibly with leukaemia in June 2004.[10]

Dulls blades more quickly than many woods

Though it does not have a grain in the plane of the board, it does have one into the board.
Screwing into the edge of a board will generally cause it to split in a fashion similar to
delaminating.

Subject to significant shrinkage in low humidity environments.

Trim (i.e. baseboards) comes pre-primed, but this is insufficient for fine finish painting.
Painting with latex paints is difficult due to rapid water absorption. Most finishes appear
uneven and nail holes tend to pucker.

Applications

Loudspeaker enclosure being constructed out of MDF

MDF is often used in school projects because of its flexibility. Slatwall Panels made from MDF
are used in the shop fitting industry. MDF is primarily used for internal use applications due to
its poor moisture resistance. it is available in raw form with fine sanded surface or with
decorative overlay.

Safety concerns
When MDF is cut, a large quantity of dust particles are released into the air. It is important that a
respirator is worn and that the material is cut in a controlled and ventilated environment. It is a
good practice to seal the exposed edges to limit the emissions from the binders contained in this
material.
Formaldehyde resins are commonly used to bind together the fibres in MDF, and testing has
consistently revealed that MDF products emit free formaldehyde and other volatile organic
compounds that pose health risks at concentrations considered unsafe, for at least several months
after manufacture.[11][12][13] Urea-formaldehyde is always being slowly released from the edges
and surface of MDF. When painting, it is a good idea to coat all sides of the finished piece in
order to seal in the free formaldehyde. Wax and oil finishes may be used as finishes but they are
less effective at sealing in the free formaldehyde.[6]
Whether these constant emissions of formaldehyde reach harmful levels in real-world
environments is not yet fully determined. The primary concern is for the industries using
formaldehyde. As far back as 1987, the U.S. EPA classified it as a "probable human carcinogen"
and, after more studies, the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in 1995,
also classified it as a "probable human carcinogen". Further information and evaluation of all
known data led the IARC to reclassify formaldehyde as a "known human carcinogen"[8]
associated with nasal sinus cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, and possibly with leukaemia in
June 2004.[10]

Veneered MDF
Veneered MDF provides many of the advantages of MDF with a decorative wood veneer surface
layer. In modern construction, spurred by the high costs of hardwoods, manufacturers have been
adopting this approach to achieve a high quality finishing wrap covering over a standard MDF
board. One common type uses oak veneer.[14] 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.

See also

Oriented strand board (OSB)

Solid wood

References
1.

 Spence, William P. (2005). The Home Carpenters & Woodworker's Repair Manual. New
York: Sterling. ISBN 1-4027-1055-0 p. 114
"Medium Density Fiberboard, Moulding, Embossing, Kitchen Cabinets Composite
Panel Association". Decorativesurfaces.org. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
United Nations (2005). European forest sector outlook study: 1960/2000/2020, main
report. New York [u.a.]: United Nations. p. 32. ISBN 9211169216.
R. Kozlowski and M. Helwig (December 1996). Critical Look on Cellulose Modification.
Proceedings of the International Symposium on Cellulose Modification. Honolulu, USA.
ANSI A208.2 MDF for Interior Applications (PDF). Gaithersburg, MD: Composite Panel
Association. 2002. p. 3.
"Medium Density Fibreboard". Design-technology.org. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
"MDF Board FAQ - Tutorial". Diyaudioandvideo.com. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
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.