Bending properties of particleboard and MDF layers

Abstract

Abstract The modulus of elasticity in bending and the bending strength of the face and core layer of particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF) were determined. Three directions of longitudinal axis of test specimens were considered: the direction of the mat forming, the direction perpendicular to it, and the direction perpendicular to the panel plane. The experiments were carried out on specimens that were prepared with strips of layers separated from the panels and glued into laminated assemblies. The bending properties of the core and face layer of the tested panels differed considerably. The core layer properties were on average more than 4 times smaller for particleboard and almost 3 times smaller for MDF. The relative differences between the bending properties were greater than the differences between the densities of the layers. The bending properties of the layers were almost isotropic in the planes of layers and very strongly anisotropic in the planes perpendicular to layers. The modulus of elasticity of the tested panels was calculated for the axis corresponding to the mat forming direction. The calculations were performed on the basis of the moduli of panel layers and based on the layered system theory. The results were compared with the modulus determined directly for entire panels. The relative difference between the compared moduli was found to be very small for both tested panels.