MDF: Everything You Need To Know

 MDF boards also familiarly known as Medium Density Fibreboards are a perfect substitute for wood and in most cases MDF outperforms wood. MDF is a specially engineered dense product,  a combination made from resin and recycled wood fibres.  MDF is largely used for making cabinets and shelves, for flooring and roofing, for door frames and doors, as store fixtures, and on walls.  In some cases, MDF is also used for cladding and its waterproofing and moisture proofing quality make it perfect for exterior use.

 The process involved in the manufacture of MDF Boards:

• Chipping and Debarking- The chipped wood is transferred to the debarking drum by a hydraulic crane where the bark is separated from the logs by a belt conveyor. The drum then sizes down the logs into even chips

• Fibre Production-This process involves the chips to be washed, steamed and after prompt removal of moisture, placed in the refiner for fibre production.

• Fibre Drying- Chips coated with molten paraffin wax are dried by transferring through a heated air dryer which is next fed into a defibrillator that grounds the chips to the fine pulp which is next blended with resin and dried

• Mat Forming- The fibres once dried, go through a series of heavy rollers that press them. The hot press creates a strong binding for the mat, after which they are cut into boards and cooled and stacked.

• Storing-It takes up to three days for the final glue curing of the board.

• Sanding and Packing - After the glue curing, the rough surface of the boards is sanded and packed.

MDF variants include Plain MDF, Ordinary MDF, Moisture rated, long with Laminated and Coloured as well. Let’s look at some of these variants in detail:

Laminated MDF:

 Laminated MDF is made up of two or more layers of fabrics that are laminated and heat-pressed. 

Moisture rated MDF:

Moisture-rated MDF boards are designed to be used in humid conditions. It is suitable for making kitchen and bathroom cupboards, doors, etc.

Coloured MDF:

 Coloured MDF has properties that are similar to those of regular MDF. This MDF is highly suitable for creative spaces. It can help woodworkers to provide a unique personality to specific projects.

Fire-rated MDF:

 Fire-rated MDF has a fine sanded surface with excellent retardant properties that do not require extra special treatment to preserve its properties. These panels are mostly used in the construction of commercial buildings placed in public spaces where there are stringent fire regulations

Today with a wide range of uses that MDF boards cover they are used in every construction activity. Having dealt with MDF panels for a long time we are voted as the best Mdf suppliers in the UAE.