FIBREBOARD

Fiberboard manufacture begins with wood chipping: fresh or recycled wood material is cut and sorted into small pieces of similar size. The chips are washed to remove things such as dirt and sand and metal scraps such as nails can be removed with a magnet placed over a conveyor belt on which the chips move forward.

In the case of, for example, MDF (medium density fiberboard) chips are steamed to soften them and a small amount of paraffin wax is added to transform them into fluffy fibres. They are soon afterwards sprayed with adhesives.

The fibres or chips are arranged into a uniform mat on a conveyor belt which is pre-compressed and then hot-pressed. This activates the adhesive and glues the fibres or chips together. The board is then cooled, trimmed, sanded and maybe veneered or laminated.

Hard fiberboard can be used as a wall slab, door board, floor, furniture and other decorations instead of wood. And the soft fiberboard in which porosity is high is often used as heatproof or acoustical materials.

Make Material Properties

Material Make

Fibreboard

Applications

Fibreboard, particularly medium-density fibreboard, is heavily used in the furniture industry. For pieces that will be visible, a veneer of wood is often glued onto fiberboard to give it the appearance of conventional wood.

Sustainability Level

The sustainability of fibreboard depends on its components: wood and glues. Using wood waste further benefits the environment because trees uptake carbon and mitigate climate change. But, because of synthetic adhesives, it is not biodegradable and has no carbon-offset value. Also, some glues emit toxic gases.

Supplier

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