Manufactured Boards

Question 1

Plywood properties & description

Answer 1

High uniform strength
Resistance to splitting
No shrinking across grain
Balance of stresses

Odd no. of thin layers of wood with grain running at right angles. Joined with water proof glue

Question 2

MDF properties and description

Answer 2

Dense
Thick
Heavy
Smooth
Good electrical insulator
Unaffected by heat
Paints well
Easy to work with
Produces dust

Saw dust that has been compressed and glued together under heat and pressure

Question 3

Hardboard description and properties

Answer 3

Made from soft wood pulp

Cheap sub for plywood
Absorbs moisture
Not rigid

Question 4

Chipboard description

Answer 4

Wood chips mixed with synthetic glue. Mixture is squeezed between rollers and dried

Strength can be improved with a veneer. Otherwise quite weak

Question 5

Blockboard description

Answer 5

Softwood strips packed edge on edge sandwiched between hardwood veneers

Light
Can have gaps