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Difference Between MDF and Particle Board
Solid wood is a prefered finishing material for all types of furniture but it comes with one disadvantage that is cost.
Furniture manufacturers generally reduced the overall cost of their products by using MDF and Particleboard.
Both MDF and particle board are composite materials. The big advantage is that these wood-alternative are much less expensive and can be created with a level of consistency. So in this article, we are going to discuss the differences between MDF and Particle board.
What is MDF Board?
The long-form of MDF is medium-density fibre boards. these are made from wood fibre. These wood fibres are mixed with glue and it goes through a hot press machine which compresses the mixture and forms a board.
MDF is a popular material for skirting boards in homes, and it has been proven to be the best skirting board material due to its numerous benefits.
What is Particle Board?
Particleboard is an engineered wood product made from Waste products like wood chips, sawdust and wood shaving.
These are mixed with glue such as urea-formaldehyde resin and phenolic resin and this mixture is formerly compressed by pressing under heat and pressure to form particleboard.
MDF VS Particle Board
| Parameters | MDF Board | Particle Board |
Appearance | MDF has a smooth surface as it is made from wood grains of uniform size. | Whereas particle board contains wood chips and wood-shaving hence it doesn’t have a smooth surface. |
Density | MDF is denser than particle board | Whereas particle board has less density as compared to MDF. |
Strength | MDF is stronger than particle board. | Whereas particle board has less strength as compared to MDF. |
Durability | MDF is fairly durable as compared to particle board. | But particle boards are less durable as compared to MDF. |
Voids | MDF doesn’t contain any voids. | Whereas particle food contains voids. |
Weight | It is heavier in weight than particle boards. | Whereas particle boards are lightweight as compared to MDF. |
Moisture | MDF has more resistance to water as it has fewer voids. | Whereas particle board has less resistance to water as its soaks water like a sponge. |
Painting | MDF can be painted easily. | Whereas particleboard cannot be easily painted as it soaks paint. |
Screw holding capacity | MDF has a Low screw holding capacity as compared to particle board. | whereas particle boards have more screw holding capacity as compared to MDF. |
| resistance to warping and cracking | MDF has more resistance to warping and cracking as compared to particle board. | Whereas particle board has low resistance to warping and cracking as compared to MDF. |
Load carrying capacity | MDF has a good load carrying capacity as compared to particle board | Whereas particle board cannot support heavy loads. |
IS code | The Indian Standard quality specification for MDF is IS:12406 and IS:14857. | The Indian Standards quality specification for particle board is IS:3087 and IS12823. |
Uses | MDF is preferred by manufacturers for high-end furniture like cabinets, shelves etc. it is also used for interior decor in restaurants and homes. | Particle board is commonly used in lower-end and lightweight furniture like shoe racks, portable furniture, children’s furniture, computer table and wardrobes etc. |
Lifespan | In a dry environment, MDF can last up to 10 years and if it is laminated then it can last up to 15 to 20 years. | In the case of particle boards, it can last up to 25 years in a dry environment and if it is laminated then it can last up to 10 to 15 years. |
Price | MDF boards are costlier as compared to particle boards the price of MDF depends on thickness, quality and brand. | Whereas particle boards are cheaper as compared to MDF. |
Conclusion
Both MDF and particle board have some unique properties and their set of advantages and disadvantages. The selection of a particular board depends on your need.
I have tried to cover all the differences between MDF and particle board, which will help you choose a suitable one.
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