Product Range and Properties
INTRODUCTION
There are two main groups of wood panel products represented by the AWPA:
Reconstituted Wood Panels such as particleboard and fibreboard are products made from wood particles bonded together to produce a flat sheet.
Particles range from large flakes and coarse sawdust material (in particleboard) to fibres (in fibreboard) while the main other distinction between different products concerns the primary bonding. Bonding can be either through the addition of synthetic resin (Particleboard, Medium Density Fibreboard) or through the refusion of naturally occurring lignin (wet process fibreboard).
TYPES OF PARTICLEBOARD
Four types are defined in the Australian Standards AS/NZS 1859.1 and AS/NZS 1860.1:
Standard Particleboard
Particleboard suitable for general purpose dry interior use only. It is not suitable for exterior use or interior areas where wetting or prolonged high humidity conditions are likely.
Moisture Resistant (MR) Particleboard
Particleboard suitable for areas of occasional wetting and high humidity. Not suitable where submerging, hosing or continual wetting is likely to occur.
High Performance (HP) Particleboard
Particleboard suitable for use in certain structural applications.
Particleboard Flooring
Particleboard manufactured specifically for use as domestic or industrial flooring as defined in AS/NZS 1860.1
Particleboard may also be produced with fungicide, termiticide or fire retardant
treatment. If so claimed, the particleboard should comply with the appropriate Australian or Industry Standard and be designated "F", "H2" or "FR" respectively.
TYPES OF FIBREBOARD
There are various classes defined in AS/NZS 1859.2 including Low Density, Medium Density and High Density types. The most commonly produced and used is Medium Density (MDF) which is available in 3 grades:
Standard Medium Density Fibreboard -
manufactured for dry interior use only.
Moisture Resistant (MR)
MDF manufactured for use in areas of high humidity and occasional wetting. Not suitable where submerging, hosing or continual wetting is likely to occur.
High Performance (HP) MDF suitable for use in certain structural applications.
These minor classes are only produced to special orders: Low Density Fibreboards are mainly used for light weight partitions etc while High Density Fibreboards find their main applications in laminate flooring overlays.
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