HDF and fiberboard boards
HDF – what is it?
Many people know what MDF is, but not everyone knows that it is only one type of wood-fibre board, the other type of such board is called HDF. Not everyone is familiar with this name, what it means, and what properties this type of building material has, how it differs from MDF and where it is used. If you are interested in the question “What is HDF?”, then this article is for you.
Price from 684 UAH per piece.
The concept of HDF and its decoding
HDF is not an abbreviation, it is a spelling of the English abbreviation HDF (High Density Fiberboard), which literally translates to high-density fibreboard.
The difference between HDF and MDF
Both of these materials have more similarities than differences; they are almost identical in their properties. The main difference between the latter is its higher density, which ranges from eight hundred to a thousand kilograms per cubic metre, while the figure for MDF is below 800.
Due to its high density, the strength of HDF is also higher, so a thinner HDF board is as reliable as a thicker MDF board. The difference in thickness is almost twofold, with high-density boards being three or four millimetres thick, while MDF is six millimetres thick or more.
Production of chipboard
Chipboard is made from wood waste from the wood processing industry or from sanitary felling, i.e. trees that are forced to be cut down to maintain healthy plantations. The raw material is dried and chopped. Then, using high pressure and temperature, the wood fibres are pressed into a predetermined shape and thickness.
HDF has a lower price than natural wood, often by more than half. At the same time, these boards can act as an analogue of wood in terms of their performance. Chipboard is a relatively new material that is intended to replace fibreboard due to its improved physical, chemical and environmental characteristics.
Application and properties of HDF
In general, HDF is used in the same places as MDF.
Due to its high density and strength, HDF is used as a floor panel and as a subfloor. Due to the fact that these boards are well resistant to mechanical stress, they are suitable for laminate or natural veneer substrates.
High-density fibreboard is widely used in the furniture industry. Due to its low cost, particleboard is often used to make parts and components of structures that are hidden behind the facade of the case. For example, it can be the back wall of furniture, wardrobe doors, drawer bases, and so on.
Minimal thickness deviations make HDF an ideal material for levelling walls and floors. In non-residential premises, suspended ceilings are used to make suspended ceilings, which allow you to hide communications, ventilation and everything that needs to be hidden from view for a more aesthetic appearance of the room.
In the carriage and automotive industries, HDF is used as a material for the interior of wagons, buses, trams, etc. In industrial production, these wood-based panels are used to make packaging or reusable containers for non-food products.
Chipboard is widely used in various fields due to its useful properties:
- Environmentally friendly material. No chemical additives are used in the production of the boards. The raw material is bonded by a natural component contained in the wood itself. It is called lignin, and when exposed to high temperatures, it turns into an organic glue that reliably holds everything together;
- The decoding of the name HDF indicates that this material has a high density and hardness, which distinguishes it from other wood-fiber boards;
- The homogeneity of the structure, which is achieved by the production technology, because the raw material is crushed into a single mass without voids and defects inherent in natural wood;
- High dimensional stability and good horizontal stability. This distinguishes HDF from conventional plywood, which can have different thicknesses;
- Good tolerance to mechanical processing. HDF can be cut, drilled, perforated, and bent modules can be created, all of which significantly expands the range of applications for high-density fiberboard;
There are two types of chipboard: polished and decorated:
- Sanded boards are produced by grinding the surface of finished boards; they are uncoated and are a good base for paints and varnishes;
- Decorated boards come in a variety of colors and textures. They are coated with dispersion colored varnishes in several layers, using different rollers to create the texture of different types of wood. The finishing transparent varnish protects against scratches, weathering and chemicals.
Now you know what this miracle material is: it costs several times less than natural wood, but its qualities are no worse and sometimes even better than it. It is easy and convenient to install, it allows you to give free rein to your imagination and create something new and unusual in your interior. If you have limited finances, you can safely replace natural wood with a panel of HDF.
