Evaluating the quality of Engineered wood

Engineered wood has a wide range of applications in life, including furniture, construction, maritime, and so on. There are numerous types of wood available on the market today such as plywood board, MDF, HDF, MFC,… with its own set of advantages and limitations. To choose a product that meets your own needs, customers should consider it carefully. Below, ADX Plywood would like to introduce to you some standards for evaluating the quality of wood material.

Different types of engineered wood

Wood has always been a material that people have trusted because of its exceptional benefits. However, with increasing demand, natural wood resources are becoming scarce. Therefore, engineered wood are gradually becoming known as alternatives in many fields of life.

MFC

MFC board, or particle board, also known as Okal wood board, was first created in the early twentieth century to make use of excess and waste wood. This board is made from wood chips mixed with additives and specialist adhesive. These components are pressed tightly together into panels with standard sizes under high temperatures and pressure. Because the materials used in particle board may be recycled from other products, MFC is relatively cheap compared to other forms of engineered board.

MDF Board

MDF board – Medium Density Fiberboard – is a very common type of engineered wood in Vienamese market. When talking about industrial wood, many customers will immediately think of MDF board. This is a product made from wood fiber, additives, and specialized glue, pressed under standard temperature and pressure. This type of board is often covered with highly aesthetic surfaces such as veneer, laminate, melamine,…

HDF

HDF, or High Density Fiberboard, also called Hardboard. This type of board is similar to MDF, but it has a higher wood density with roughly 80 – 85% wood fiber mixed with various other additives and specific adhesives. In terms of water resistance and strength, HDF is thought to have superior advantages over MDF.

Plywood board

Plywood has a unique structure consisting of many thin layers of natural veneer stacked on top of each other in the direction of the wood grain. It is one of the most popular engineered wood in the global market, especially EU, American,… The board’s surface is covered with artificial papers such as melamine, film, or natural wood veneer.

Evaluate the quality of pressed wood

To help customers more easily evaluate and compare the quality of engineered wood, ADX Plywood would like to introduce some of the following standards:

Swelling and boiling resistance

Swelling is a critical measure for determining the water resistance level of industrial wood boards. Factors such as raw wood type, board structure, component ratio, wood density, adhesive density, manufacturing process, and so on will all influence the swelling level of each type of board. The less expansion there is, the more durable the board will be.

Similarly, the level of boiling resistance evaluates water resistance and the ability of the boards to hold their structure for a certain period of time, usually 24 hours, 36 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Good, long-lasting boards that have been boiled for a long time still maintain a stable structure with no peeling or separate layers.

Moisture content

The moisture has a direct impact on the structure of wooden boards. The optimal humidity for engineered boards is usually between 8% and 12%. During the production process, wood boards are processed, dried, and kept at a certain humidity, depending on intended use. Boards with good moisture will limit termites and blisters that affect quality.

Bending capacity

Pressed wood products have the ability to bend, creating interior products with eye-catching curves and reducing the inherent roughness of wood materials. Plywood, among pressed woods, has excellent bending capacity and can be flexible to meet the customer’s aesthetic standards.

Resistance to axial withdrawal of screws

Normally when used with saws, cuts, or screws, they are susceptible to structural breakage. However, plywood board, with its structure of many veneer layers stacked on top of each other, helps the board hold screws better. According to the testing results at ADX Plywood, the resistance to axial withdrawal of screws on the surface is ~1.96 kN and on the edge is ~1.66 kN. Therefore, this type of wood is popular thanks to its ability to hold screws well and its ease of construction.

Density

The density of the board represents its ability to withstand force and prevent mold and mildew from affecting the wood board. It also has an impact on the board’s water resistance. For example, the more firmly pressed the plywood is, the more pores are compressed preventing water from penetrating deep into the core of the board and resulting in a more effective plywood waterproof.

What makes ADX’s plywood board outstanding?

ADX Plywood currently provides three main lines of high quality plywood products: melamine plywood, veneer plywood, and film faced plywood. These types are highly appreciated for their quality and aesthetics, as well as being the perfect alternative to natural wood.

Standard production process

ADX currently has its own factory in the Bac Dong Hoi Tndustrial area, Quang Binh, Vietnam. The standard production process helps the finished plywood waterproof and achieve the best quality when delivered to customers.

Step 1. Harvest natural wood

Step 2. Peel wood into veneer

Step 3. Sort and dry

Step 4. Sew and spread glue

Step 5. Lay-up the veneers

Step 6. Cold and hot press the core

Step 7. Repair defect and sand the core

Step 8. Apply glue and bond the surface

Step 9. Cold and hot press the surface

Step 10. Sand, trim and finish

Quality certificates

For engineered wood to ensure product quality when delivered to customers, a variety of certificates are applied. ADX’s plywood board currently complies with a number of export certificates, satisfying both domestic and international customers.

FSC certificate

FSC – Forest Stewardship Council – is an organization that influences forest and environmental conservation. As a result, FSC certification is used in factories that use forest raw materials, encouraging exploitation and processing to ensure standards for conserving forests and natural ecosystems.

CARB P2 certificate

Formaldehyde is a needed ingredient in the glue used to manufacture industrial wood. People who are exposed to high quantities for a long time may have health concerns.

CARB P2 – California Air Resources Board – certification for reducing hazardous formaldehyde emissions into the environment during engineered wood production. This certificate is frequently used in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Europe. ADX Plywood has received CARB P2 certification with a formaldehyde emission concentration of <0.05mm, ensuring absolute safety for users’ health.

E0 standard

The Europe grade (E0, E1, E2,…) is used to measure formaldehyde emission concentration. The lower the E grade, the higher the level of safety. This standard is accepted in countries such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, West Asia,… ADX’s high quality plywood waterproof currently all fulfill E0 criteria (0.07 ppm), are colorless, and are odorless. Therefore, customers can be completely assured when choosing to use our products.

ADX Plywood supplies the high quality engineered wood, meeting certificate of FSC, CARB P2, E0,…

Technical specifications

Let’s see the technical details of the plywood kinds at ADX below:

SPECIFICATION	TECHNICAL STANDARDS
Core	Melaleuca, Eucalyptus, Oil, Acacia, Manglietia, Pine, Rubber…
Surface	Melamine, Veneer, Film Faced Plywood
Requirement	100% heat-dried
Finished product specifications	1220mm x 2440mm
E0 standard glue
Specifications tolerance	+/- 2mm
Thickness tolerance	+/- 0.5mm
Moisture	12 +/- 2%
Thickness	5.2mm – 25mm
Density	550 – 700 kg/m3

From the above information about some standards for evaluating the quality of engineered wood, we hope customers can more easily choose the right material for your project. If you have any questions about plywood, please leave your information or contact ADX Plywood for convenient consulting support!

Contact information

Headquarters: Sarimi B2-00.08, Sala Urban Area, An Loi Dong Ward, Thu Duc City, HCMC

Factory: Bac Dong Hoi Industrial Area, Thuan Duc commune, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

Hotline: +84 937 09 88 99 | +84 902 317 486

Email: Info@adxplywood.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adxplywood/