What Is the Difference Between Particle Board & MDF?
Particle board and medium-density fiberboard are both engineered wood products. These products are made from wood remnants, such as wood shavings, sawdust and other fibers leftover from the harvesting of lumber. Particle board was created after World Word II in response to an increased housing demand. MDF is a much-refined version of reconstituted wood that appeared in the 1960s. Slightly different, each product has its particular uses. Does this Spark an idea?
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Engineered Wood
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Wood products such as particle board and the more durable MDF are the result of mixing wood by-products --- fibers, shavings, sawdust --- with a glue-like substance to make a wood slurry. This mixture is then processed to create large sheets that can be cut and used like natural lumber. This process uses wood fragments that might otherwise end up in incinerators or landfills.
Composition
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Both particle board and MDF are created in the same way, though with different types of wood trimmings. Particle board is made from ground-down wood particles such as sawdust.
MDF is made from steam-separated fibers; these particles are dried and then mixed with a binder --- a resin that holds the wood debris together. This waxy resin is usually a synthetic compound called urea formaldehyde. The wood-resin slurry is pressed into sheets, then sliced, trimmed and sometimes painted.
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Uses
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Particle board is used primarily when appearance is not important. It is often used as door and cabinet cores, cabinets or subflooring panels. When it is used for cabinetry, it usually has some type of wood veneer overlay.
MDF is often used when a wood-like structure is desired but low cost is important. MDF can be carved into almost any shape and is often used for baseboards and wall moldings. MDF is very heavy and is meant more for built-ins --- bookshelves, cabinets, vanities --- than for objects that need to be portable.
Surface
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Although engineered woods such as particle board and MDF have similar construction, their surfaces are not similar. Particle board has a noticeably rough, speckled surface that does not take paint well and is usually covered with some other material, such as tile, laminate or carpet. MDF, on the other hand, has a uniform and smooth surface which takes paint well. This means MDF can stand alone, especially when painted or stained.
Water Resistance
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Particle board and MDF have different levels of resistance to water. Particle board will quickly become saturated when exposed to water and fall apart, but MDF is denser and less permeable. MDF can withstand some amount of moisture, but is not waterproof.
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References
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