Composite materials have significantly changed the way several products are designed and have brought ultimate durability and versatility to the range of products that can be created. Are you fed up of boring plywood textures that remind you of the 90’s? Do you need an eco-friendly material for your office furniture? Or do you want cupboards at home with the artistic appeal? Medium density fiberboard has been extensively used by architects to design your workspace or home which help them create the right ambience. MDF is a specially engineered product made by residuals of softwood or hardwood which are converted into fine particles. Further, the fiber-matrix, wax and resin binder are treated under high temperature and pressure to form laminates of various shapes and sizes.
Benefits of MDF Board
Depending on the manufacturer and types, some MDF board is cheaper than conventional wood ply.
When sealed properly, it has a unique property of maintaining its dimensions, i.e., it does not expand or contract like wood.
The MDF board has consistent strength, good machinability (laser cutting) and is comparatively easier to paint or give other surface finish that makes your articles look attractive compared to those made from conventional polished wood.
It can easily be glued, doweled and laminated. A hard, flat, and smooth surface makes it an ideal material for veneering.
Detailed designs like scrolled or scalloped patterns and decorative edges can be easily cut using a band saw or jigsaw.
Demerits of Using MDF Board
During the cutting operation, it may release formaldehyde which is toxic to humans, and so it requires safety equipment to be used while machining.
MDF board needs to be sealed properly. Otherwise, it may warp, expand or swell due to saturation with water. It can also undergo shrinkage in low humidity environment.
If you are machining these boards using a high-speed steel tool on a lathe or other machinery, then the tool will wear out more quickly when compared to the machining conventional wood. Thus, superior tools such as tungsten carbide need to be used thus adding extra costs.
A high-density value makes these laminates considerably heavier to work with. These also fail to hold screws properly, and special fasteners are used to serve the purpose.
Types of MDF Boards and Their Uses
Beadboard – Usage: Dining rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. This is typically famous due to its low cost, and it can be employed in half-wall wood paneling jobs.
Slatwall – Usage: Retail shops, kitchen storage, and home garages. This type of MDF board houses deep lipped grooves which are designed to hang hardware and shelving for display.
Bendy MDF – These are also known as flexible MDF and have the capability to be bent to any shape which is used by architects to create curvy objects with artistic appeal.
Ultralite MDF – Usage: Theatre, Gallery, Mobile-shops, etc. Ultralite MDF has a high strength to weight ratio which gives you the capability to move it with ease and hence it is used for building production sets in theatre or pop up galleries/shops.
Fire Retardant MDF – Usage: Commercial/Residential buildings. These materials are highly resistant to fire and thus add a safety feature. However, while buying a fire retardant, MDF make sure it is authentic and certified by a regulatory body.
Moisture Resistant MDF – Usage: Bathrooms, Kitchen, Flooring, etc. A standard MDF board will swell and lose strength when brought in contact with water or when there is a change in humidity. MR MDF can resist moisture or humid environment without affecting its functionality.
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