Comprehensive knowledge of MDF board: a complete guide to purchase, use and maintenance
Density board, also known as fiberboard, is a man-made board made by hot grinding, laying and hot pressing wood or other plant fibers soaked in water. Urea-formaldehyde resin or other suitable adhesives are added during the manufacturing process to increase the strength and stability of the board.
This material is favored for its soft texture and impact resistance, and it has high bending strength and uniform density distribution, which makes it very suitable for reprocessing. Abroad, density board is often used in furniture manufacturing because it can provide a smooth and flat surface, is suitable for finishing, and is easy to shape. However, one of the main disadvantages of density board is its poor waterproof performance, which means it is not suitable for applications in humid environments.
Depending on the density, density board can be divided into low-density board (LDF), medium-density board (mdf) and high-density board (HDF). Among them, medium-density board and high-density board are made by finely grinding small-caliber wood chips and adding glue, and pressing under high temperature and high pressure conditions. They are widely used in modern home and industrial products. It is worth noting that although the density board produced domestically has reached international standards in some aspects, there is still room for improvement in overall quality, especially in terms of environmental protection standards, there is still a certain gap compared with the international advanced level.
Classification and characteristics comparison of density boards
| Type | Density range | Feature | Application |
High density board (HDF) | ≥800 kg/m³ | High hardness, wear resistance, pressure resistance,strong stability | Laminate flooring base, high-end door core board, countertop lining board, custom furniture load-bearing components |
Medium density board (MDF) | 650-800 kg/m³ | Delicate surface, easy to process and carve, high cost performance | Furniture cabinet doors (painted/laminated), drawer panels, decorative lines, speaker cabinets, custom-made special-shaped furniture (carved/curved shapes) |
Low density board (LDF) | ≤650 kg/m³ | Lightweight, easy to cut, low cost | Temporary partitions, packaging linings, skirting substrates, exhibition props (one-time use scenarios) |
High-density board (HDF)
Strengthening performance: The bending strength can reach more than 30MPa (ordinary MDF is about
15-20MPa), suitable for high-frequency use areas (such as shopping mall guide signs).
Moisture-proof upgrade: Some HDFs are treated with paraffin or silane, and the water absorption expansion
rate is ≤8% (ordinary boards ≥12%), which can be used for bathroom cabinet frames.
Medium-density board (MDF)
Processing advantages: It is compatible with CNC engraving machines to achieve 0.1mm precision milling,
and is widely used in Roman columns and embossed door panels of light luxury style furniture.
Surface treatment:
Melamine veneer (Melamine): wear-resistant and scratch-resistant, used for office desks;
PVC coating: improved waterproof performance, suitable for kitchen wall cabinets.
Low-density board (LDF)
Cost control: The price is 30%-50% lower than MDF, suitable for commercial space soft furnishings for
short-term use (such as the wall base of pop-up stores). Lightweight design: With a density of only 450kg/m³,
it can float on the water and is used for structural parts in stage settings that need to reduce weight.
Main advantages of MDF board:
1. mdf board has small deformation and warping.
2. MDF board has high bending strength and impact strength.
3. MDF board is easy to be painted. Various coatings and paints can be evenly applied on density board, which
is the preferred substrate for paint effect.
4. MDF board is also a beautiful decorative board.
5.Various veneers, adhesive films, decorative panels, light metal sheets and other materials can be glued on
the surface of MDF board .
6. Hard MDF board can be punched and drilled to make sound-absorbing panels, which are used in building
decoration projects.
7. Excellent physical properties, uniform material, no dehydration problem. The performance of medium
MDF board is close to natural wood, but without the defects of natural wood.
Main disadvantages of MDF board:
1. MDF board has poor nail holding force.
2. It is relatively heavy and difficult to slice.
3. The biggest disadvantage of MDF board is that it is not moisture-proof and swells when exposed to water.
When using density skirting boards, door panels, and window sills, you should pay attention to painting all
six sides to prevent deformation. Although MDF board have poor moisture resistance and nail holding power,
if the screws become loose after tightening, it is not easy to fix them again. However, MDF board have a
smooth surface, fine material, stable performance, firm edges, and are easy to shape, avoiding problems such
as decay and insect infestation. In terms of bending strength and impact strength, they are better than particle
boards, and the decorative properties of the board surface are excellent, which is even better than the appearance
of solid wood furniture.
Manufacturing process
Raw material processing: wood or plant fiber is chipped, screened and cleaned.
Fiber preparation: raw materials are decomposed into fibers by hot mill.
Gluing: fiber is mixed with adhesive (such as urea-formaldehyde resin).
Molding: paving into slabs, pre-pressing and shaping.
Hot pressing: pressing under high temperature (180-220℃) and high pressure (20-30MPa) to solidify the adhesive.
Post-processing: cooling, cutting, sanding, veneer or painting.
The dimensional stability of MDF refers to its ability to maintain its original size under different environmental conditions,
especially when humidity and temperature change. The following are several major factors and their manifestations that
affect the dimensional stability of MDF:
Influencing factors
Wood fiber raw materials: The content of compressed wood in the raw materials, the part of the material taken, and the
age of the tree will affect the dimensional stability of the board. For example, boards made from young wood have larger
linear expansion but less water absorption.
Board density: Generally speaking, the higher the density of the board, the worse its dimensional stability, because high
density means more fibers are compressed together, and these fibers are more likely to expand due to moisture absorption.
Adhesive type and amount of glue: Using the right amount and appropriate adhesive can improve the dimensional stability
of the board. For example, adding a waterproofing agent or a modified adhesive (such as melamine-modified resin) can
reduce the water absorption and thickness expansion rate of the board.
Production process parameters: Parameters such as temperature, pressure and time during the hot pressing process will
affect the final performance of the board. Appropriate hot pressing conditions help to improve the bonding between fibers,
thereby enhancing dimensional stability.