MDF and particleboard are two types of chipboard that are used in various industries, including furniture, construction and decoration industries. In this article, from the site of Ferin Rangin Chub Company, we will examine and compare these two types of wooden boards.

What is MDF?

MDF is a type of fiberboard made from wood fibers, resin and chemical additives. MDF stands for “Medium Density Fiberboard” and refers to a type of chipboard with medium density. This type of board is made of very fine wood fibers that are glued together by pressure and heat. To make MDF, wood fibers are glued together using a special adhesive and then it is turned into a dense and strong board with high pressure and intense heat. MDF board is produced from high-density wood fibers and synthetic oils and resins are used in it to increase moisture resistance. This type of wooden chipboard is used in various industries, including furniture, packaging and construction industries. MDF is also a type of chipboard like chipboard, but very fine wood fibers are used in its construction, which are pressed together and glued together with pressure glue. This material is used as a cheap alternative to natural wood in various industries and due to its smoothness and high polishability, it is of interest in furniture making, interior decoration, etc.

What is chipboard?

Particleboard is a type of chipboard that is made of very fine and grated wood chips with glue and high pressure. Chipboard also refers to a board that is produced from wood fibers, this type of fibers are larger and denser fibers. The surface of chipboard is reshaped using glue and various coatings such as melamine, vinyl, laminate, etc. To make chipboard, wood fibers are first stuck together using an adhesive and pressed into a board shape. Then its surface is covered using different coatings to make it shiny and beautiful and to increase its resistance to moisture, heat and impact. Particleboard is produced from small wood fibers with high pressure. This type of chipboard is lighter and weaker than MDF and is used in various industries including construction, interior decoration and carpentry industries. The history of chipboard production dates back to 1913, when micro-fiber wood was introduced using pressure glue as an alternative to natural wood.

The history of chipboard and MDF

The history of chipboard goes back to 1913, when micro-fiber wood compressed using glue was introduced as an alternative to natural wood. But chipboard emerged as a true industrial material in the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, the manufacturers of micro-fibrous wood used wood powder instead of micro-fibrous wood in order to increase the quality of their products. This change improved the properties of the chipboard product.

MDF (MDF) is also a type of chipboard, like chipboard, but in its construction, very fine wood fibers are used, which are pressed together and glued together with pressure glue. This material is used as a cheap alternative to natural wood in various industries and because of its smoothness and high polishability, it is used in furniture making, interior decoration, etc. The history of MDF goes back to 1960, when this material was developed by the Swedish company Swedspan.

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How are MDF and chipboard made?

In the production of MDF, wood fibers together with resin and chemical additives work together in the mill, and after pressure and heat, the MDF board is made.

– In the production of chipboard, small wood chips are combined with glue in a mixer and then pressed in special molds and dried with the heat of the mold.

MDF and particleboard are both wooden boards that are used in different industries. However, these two products are produced using different processes and using wood fibers of different sizes and shapes.

Chipboard is produced from wood fibers with more granularity and lower density, and MDF is a type of wooden chipboard that is made using wood and wood fibers. This board is transformed into a coherent wooden board by using high pressure and heat and by gluing wood fibers together.

To produce MDF board, wood fibers are combined and pressed with high pressure and heat to make a board. Finally, synthetic oils and resins are added to this board to increase resistance to moisture.

Which one is more resistant?

In terms of resistance, MDF is more resistant due to its higher density than chipboard.

MDF is produced using fine and sticky wood fibers and has a higher density than chipboard. These characteristics make MDF to be a smooth surface without blemishes with the ability to cut and engrave, suitable for interior use such as cabinet making, furniture, door and window making, etc.

Where is MDF used?

MDF is used as a substitute for wood in various industries such as making furniture, cabinets, doors and windows, floor coverings, etc.

MDF board is used in various industries including furniture, interior decoration, construction and packaging industries. For example, in the furniture industry, this type of wood chipboard is used to make the base of many products. Also, in the interior decoration industry, MDF board is used to make doors, wall coverings, cabinets and decorative parts.

Advantages of MDF

MDF or MDF is a material by compressing and gluing wood particles, which is less affected by temperature and humidity than wood. Some of the advantages of using MDF are:

Reasonable price: due to the use of cheaper primary resources and industrial production, the price of MDF is lower than that of wood.
Homogeneous structure: Due to the compression molding, MDF has a homogeneous structure that makes it easy to process and mold.
High durability: MDF has a high resistance to scratches and impact and has a longer lifespan due to the fact that it does not change shape and form over time.
Wide design and use: MDF can be used in the production of all kinds of furniture, doors and windows, cabinets and other products.
Protecting the environment: Using MDF saves the use of wood resources, and its production causes the least harm to the environment.
Disadvantages of MDF

Some of the disadvantages of using MDF are:

Weakness to heat: Due to its wood content, MDF is weak to heat and may burn quickly if exposed to high heat.
Weakness against moisture: Despite the high resistance of MDF against moisture, if it comes into direct contact with water, it quickly shows a decrease in its strength.
Toxicity: When MDF is cut, small particles may be absorbed that contain formaldehyde and several other toxic substances that may be harmful to health.
High weight: Compared to wood, MDF has more weight, which may make it difficult in some cases.
Unfavorable appearance: MDF has an unfavorable appearance due to the use of small wood particles, and in many cases, it cannot work well as a substitute for wood and requires the use of decorative coatings.
Less stable: Due to the lack of long wood fibers, MDF is less stable than wood and may break quickly in some cases.
What coating is used for MDF?

Several types of coatings can be used for MDF. In fact, the type of coating used for MDF depends on its final application. Some of the coatings used for MDF are:

Melamine: Melamine is a type of protective coating that is made by compressing multiple layers of paper and plastic. Due to its high resistance to scratches, wear and impact, melamine coating is used for the production of furniture, cabinets and interior facades.
Painted MDF sheet: If you need to color the MDF surface, you can use colored MDF sheets.
PVC sheet: PVC sheets or membrane vacuum coating are also a type of protective coating that are easily placed on the surface of MDF. This type of cover has a high resistance to moisture and scratches, which is attached to MDF using vacuum glue.
Paints and oils: Paints and oils can be used to color and protect the MDF surface. This method is suitable for the exterior of buildings and exterior products such as terraces, parking lots and doors.
Wooden sheet: wooden sheets are also used to cover the surface of MDF. This method is stylish and beautiful for producing furniture and household products.
Where is chipboard used?

Due to its reasonable price and light weight, chipboard is used in the industries of furniture making, wall and ceiling covering, carton making, etc.

Advantages of chipboard

Chipboard is a synthetic material that is obtained from wood by compressing and gluing wood particles. Unlike wood, which requires frequent maintenance payments, chipboard has the following advantages:

Reasonable price: Chipboard has a reasonable price due to its industrial production and the use of cheaper raw materials compared to wood.
Long service life: Chipboard has a high resistance to impact and scratches and has a longer service life due to the fact that it does not change shape and form over time.
Wide design and use: chipboard is easily cut into different shapes and can be easily processed, so it can be used to produce all kinds of wooden and non-wood products.
Preservation of the environment: Chipboard saves the use of wood resources, and its production causes the least harm to the environment.
Disadvantages of chipboard

Using chipboard has the following disadvantages:

Weakness against heat: chipboard is weak against heat and fire and may burn quickly if exposed to high heat.
Weakness against moisture: Although chipboard is resistant to moisture, it quickly shows a decrease in strength in case of direct contact with water.
Cuts and scratches: Despite chipboard’s high resistance to scratches and impacts, this product is more scratchable than MDF.
Unfavorable appearance: Chipboard has an unfavorable appearance due to the use of small and compact wood for production.
Increasing the adhesion of formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is one of the adhesive materials used in the production of chipboard, this material is significantly harmful to human health when swallowed and inhaled.
What is the difference between MDF and chipboard?

– MDF has more density and resistance than chipboard.

Chipboard is lighter in weight and has a rougher surface than MDF

The way to distinguish chipboard from MDF

To distinguish chipboard from MDF, you can see the wood fibers inside the board using a microscope. Also, the surface material of the board and its weight can also indicate the type of board. Chipboard is made of pressed wood chips and MDF is made of wood and glue. To distinguish MDF from chipboard, we must check the cross section of the wood. If it is made of fine fibers, it is MDF, and if it is made of wood particles, it is chipboard.

What coating is used for chipboard?

Several types of coatings can be used for chipboard. In general, the type of coating used for chipboard depends on its final application and needs. Some of the coatings used for chipboard are:

Melamine: Melamine is a type of protective coating that is made by compressing several layers of paper and plastic, but due to the small thickness of this type of coating, it is not very common to use it on chipboard because the chipboard surface is not completely polished and smooth.
PVC vacuum coating: PVC vacuum coating is a type of resistant protective coating in the form of plastic sheets that can be coated on chipboard surface. Due to its high resistance to scratches, moisture and washing, this coating is used to make kitchen cabinets and other products. For this purpose, you can use FRP vacuum membrane coverings, which have more than 80 types of color variations. You can call 02191090844 to get FRP coverings.
HPL coating: This protective coating is made by compressing multiple layers of paper and resin, and due to its high resistance to scratches, heat and moisture, it is used to produce products such as cabinets, wall coverings, partitions and chairs.
Paints and oils: Paints and oils can be used to color and protect the chipboard surface. This method is suitable for the exterior of buildings and exterior products such as terraces, parking lots and doors.
Wooden sheet: Wooden sheets are used as a protective coating for chipboard. This method is stylish and beautiful for producing home products.
Summary…

MDF and chipboard are both made from wood planks, however, different processes are used to make them. Due to its strength and density, MDF is suitable for applications that require more strength. Due to its reasonable price and low weight, chipboard is used for applications that require less weight. To distinguish MDF and chipboard, you can use a microscope and check the material of the board surface. MDF board and chipboard are two types of chipboard that are used in various industries such as furniture, interior decoration and construction industries. The most common way to cover MDF and chipboard is to use PVC vacuum covers, which is Ferin Ranginchob company, which produces and markets the most diverse Iranian vacuum covers.