What is the difference between chipboard and MDF?
Among wood particle boards, MDF and chipboard boards are especially widely used (in the technical literature there is an abbreviation chipboard). They are used in the manufacture of furniture, building structures, doors, as well as various kinds of finishing works. Despite the similar scope, each type has its own characteristics. Knowing the features of each material, you can make the right choice on the use of one or the material. Let us consider in more detail what are the differences between MDF and chipboard.
The abbreviation MDF does not stand for Russian - it is the Russian version of the English abbreviation MDF, which stands for Medium Density Fiberboards. MDF is a smooth wood board that can be easily processed. The production technology consists in pressing with graters, pre-treated with high-pressure steam, crushed finely dispersed homogeneous wood pulp, consisting of chips, bark, and shavings from waste wood production.
As a result of such pressing, the mass is held together with the help of lignin or paraffin released by the wood (depending on the type of wood prevailing in the mass), which is an environmentally friendly binding material.
In most cases, interior doors, door jambs, slopes, window sills, platbands, decorative elements, as well as elements that require a large number of milling areas and small parts are made from MDF.
Chipboard - can be deciphered as chipboard. Very often in the technical literature there is an abbreviation of chipboard. Unlike MDF, this type of wood-based boards is produced by cold pressing of larger substandard wood production wastes with the addition of various non-mineral substances, in particular formaldehyde resins, as a binder.
Wood boards after mixing with a special thermosetting resin are once again sent for pressing for curing, and then cut into boards of the desired size. As a result, chipboard is a less environmentally friendly and less harmless building material for human health.
Differences between MDF and chipboard
The main differences between the two types of wood boards are pumped into strength indicators, as well as in the level of manufacturability and safety for human health.
First of all, even an unprepared person can notice the differences in the appearance of untreated wood-based panels. The structure of the chipboard makes it possible to single out the individual constituent elements of the wood board - chips, shavings, bark elements. The situation is reversed with MDF - in appearance this type is a very smooth material, even in its raw form, with a homogeneous structure.
Strength differences
The average strength of an MDF board is 730 - 880 kg per cu. m. This indicator contributes to the long service life of products made from MDF, as well as the possibility of using the material in places with the greatest load and places requiring increased wear resistance. As a result of processing and pressing MDF, it was possible to surpass the wear resistance and moisture resistance of ordinary wood.
The strength of chipboard boards depends on the class of material used. There are three density grades of chipboard: low, medium and high. However, even a material belonging to a high density class cannot be compared with an MDF board in terms of the corresponding parameter. A simple example, the decorative elements of furniture made of chipboard very often fail to hold tightly after several cycles of assembling and disassembling the furniture.
Environmental Safety
Considering the fact that formaldehyde resins are used in the production of chipboard, we can point out a significant difference between them and MDF boards. If the ends of furniture elements made of chipboard are not properly processed and pasted over, the formaldehyde resin will evaporate. This process adversely affects human health.
Recently, the number of "unscrupulous" manufacturers of chipboard boards has increased, which do not respect the proportions of wood components and resins binding them, producing an increase in the amount of binder resin and a decrease in wood. This ultimately entails more intense evaporation of the resin from the surface of the wood board. On the other hand, MDF is an order of magnitude more environmentally friendly building material.
Advantages and disadvantages of chipboard
The advantages of wood particle boards include:
- Relatively low cost. This is due to the fact that precious wood is not used in the production, and also because the production cycle is not a technologically complex process.
- moisture resistance. Due to the impregnation of the wood component with formaldehyde resins, chipboard boards very well resist the presence of high humidity in the room.
- Ease. Regardless of the density, the specific gravity of the wood board remains relatively low for this class of building materials.
Do not forget about the disadvantages:
- Not very well processed.
- Not a high level of environmental friendliness.
Advantages and disadvantages of MDF
As a result of the high density of the material increase in wear resistance. But at the same time, the mass of products and pieces of furniture made from this material is also increasing.
MDF boards are easy to process and withstand the manufacture of small decorative elements. Also, the disadvantages include high cost and flammability.