Medium Density Fiberboard and Traditional Wood Materials

Medium density fiberboard or simply called MDF is a compound wood product which is identical to particleboard. MDF is made from waste fibers glued together with resin under heat, and pressure. MDF is highly functional and can be manufactured and finished to a high standard because it is widely used in these days and as a result, MDF has replaced solid timber.

MDF has replaced all traditional wood materials used by the people because of these reasons:

• It has excellent machining characteristics because of its density
• It has higher moisture tolerance capacity than other tradition wood materials.
• It is more robust in nature
• It has fire resistance capacity more than the timber and it is aesthetically pleasing.
• It has scratch resistance capacity.

There are some dangers occur when you work with MDF compared to other wood materials like Softwood and Hardwood products:

The environment formed by completing MDF board acquires a mix of dust of hardwood and dust of softwood. When we cut MDF board there are so many dust particles are released in which free formaldehyde are present and resin with its derivatives are also present. Formaldehyde is imperative organic chemical and mainly found at low levels, commonly lower than 0.03 parts per million in both air i.e. outdoor and indoor air and present mainly in people, foods which we eat and trees. Under current act formaldehyde, hardwood dust and softwood dust are seems to be unsafe to our fitness and health. It is dangerous for our environment and make harm for our respiratory system. It may cause irritation to the eyes and lungs.

Advantages for using MDF:

• It is in your budget
• It is present in various sizes and verities
• It can be easily manufactured
• It gives you smooth and quality surface.
• It easily drilled without affecting its surface.
• It is eco-friendly.
• MDF is versatile.

Disadvantages for using MDF Board:

• If proper safety protections are not applied then MDF can be unsafe to use.
• MDF consist of a substance named urea formaldehyde, which are responsible for irritation to the eyes and also it affects the lungs.
• When we cut MDF with machinery then appropriate ventilation is needed.
• Facemasks are required the dirt released when manufacturing MDF is very injurious to health.
• Masks and goggles should every time be frayed at all times to be safe.
• If you do not care then material may crack so MDF can be hooked together with screws and nails.
• MDF is not suitable for most joints
• MDF should be fully packed to avoid toxins from spreading.

MDF is widely used in Embossing, Moulding, Laminate Flooring, Office & Residential Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Laminating and Finishing etc. As in the same family like particle board MDF is a constructed wood product. The major component of MDF offers many opportunities for it to be used as an alternative to solid wood and that’s the reason it is widely used in these days.