Industrial wood is increasingly being used in the design and interior construction process of buildings, especially in spaces where the priority is to optimize cost and flexibility. Surely you have heard the term laminate, but to decide which type of laminate to use? What kind of wood should be used in the lobby space? How do optimize costs? and many other questions are raised but still have no clear answer.
In
this article, PYRA Engineering will share with you the basic knowledge about
popular industrial woods.
What is industrial wood?
The
name has shared very clearly the properties of this wood - 'Industrial wood'.
This is a type of wood - mass-produced by workshops and industrial production
lines based on leftovers, regenerated natural wood.
With
the nature of mass production along with the main material not from the flesh
of natural wood, the price of industrial wood is often much cheaper than that
of natural wood. An example closest to industrial wood - natural wood is
industrial chicken eggs - chicken eggs. Industrial chicken eggs are raised,
mass-produced, and even pressed according to output and quality. Our eggs are
naturally raised according to basic rules.
The
basic structure of industrial woods consists of two parts: wood core and wood
surface.
In
this article, we will share with you the types of wood cores and how to
distinguish them from each other, so that you can better understand the
products you - your company - your family will use in the workspace. its
activities.
Popular types of industrial wood
1. MFC reinforced plywood
MFC
stands for Melamine Faced Chipboard, wood chipboard with a melamine coating on
the surface.
·
Origin:
from twigs, branches, or trunks of forest trees such as acacia, eucalyptus,
rubber
·
Structure:
chopped wood chips are mixed with layers of glue and pressed tightly to create
thickness for the wood panel
·
Features:
o
Because
the wood chips are made of wood chips, the wood chips do not look smooth, or easy
to see or touch the wood chips.
o
Light,
quite hard with good bearing capacity, high mechanical strength
This is a wood that is easy to work with, can be reproduced,
and does not harm the primeval forests of mother nature. With available raw
materials, simple processing, and easy mass production, MFC wood is the
low-cost and optimal type among industrial woods. That means that the
durability of MFC will also be limited, especially because it is a combination
of wood chips and glue, so its moisture resistance is almost nonexistent, and
it is easy to swell in moisture. Although there is a line of moisture-resistant
MFC wood (the core is mixed with green moisture-resistant wood chips and normal
wood chips), with the technique of not tight pressing and the nature of wood
chips at low density, the water-resistance of the industrial wood core is
water-resistant. MFC moisture resistance is not high.
If
your priority is on cost, MFC is the perfect choice for the furniture in the '
size ' area such as desks, file cabinets, movable drawers, and desk dividers. Do
not use MFC for furniture that needs to be moisture-proof such as the design of
the pantry area in the office, and the kitchen area at home.
2. MDF
MDF
stands for Medium density fiberboard, a type of medium-density fiberboard. If
MFC is a board with wood chips, MDF is a type made with wood fibers.
·
Origin:
wood chips, branches, or branches
·
Structure:
finely ground to create wood fiber powder, combined with a binder, paraffin wax
and wood protectant (anti-termite, anti-mold), inorganic powder, and glue mix
to create adhesive
·
Features:
o
Because
it is finely milled with a medium density of wood fibers, not too high or low,
MDF is smoother than MFC, does not crack easily, does not shrink, and is less
susceptible to termites.
o
Easy
to process, easy to shape (curved), and paint with a variety of colors
o
The
density of wood fibers is only in the mid-range, so MDF is relatively soft and
has a weaker bearing capacity than MFC
In
workspaces, MDF is optimized for use in pantries, lunch, or relaxation areas in
offices where there is high humidity and direct contact with water. This is a
type of industrial wood core with mid-range quality and price, along with the
ability to flexibly create color and design, MDF is the choice to express brand
identity and meet functionality in working spaces. work, offices, meeting rooms
at companies.
If
your company or family wants a wooden interior space with a low cost, and good
quality, then MDF will be a suitable choice.
3. HDF reinforced industrial wood
HDF
– High-density fiberboard industrial wood. Similar to MDF, the fiber density in
HDF is thicker, corresponding to the higher quality of HDF.
·
Origin:
normal natural wood
·
Structure:
Wood pulp is taken from natural wood, then boiled - dried at high temperature
(1000 - 2000 degrees Celsius). Wood pulp will then be treated with additives to
increase hardness, prevent termites, and press under high pressure
(850-870kg/cm2).
·
Features:
o
HDF
wood core does not crack, does not shrink, is very hard and has good bearing
capacity because of its high fiber density, and is pressed very tightly. High
stability
o
Good
durability, better resistance to scratches and moisture than MDF wood core
o
Better
price than natural wood
HDF
wood is the leading type of industrial wood core on the market today compared
to MFC and MDF, with high quality and durability similar to natural wood. With
good moisture resistance and sound insulation, HDF wood core is suitable for
most interior design needs in areas such as pantries, kitchens, and meeting rooms,
... However, compared to MFC and MDF, the price of HDP is significantly higher,
which is not optimal in terms of cost for businesses as well as for home use.
We suggest that HDF should be prioritized for use with raw
parts of high-end furniture with a total investment, for example, high-end
lobby or showroom of brands, furniture in shopping malls, furniture in the
director's room, or the company's president.
4. Plywood industrial core
Plywood
wood core is also known as plywood-pressed plywood. This is a type of wood that
is joined by many thin wood panels (~ 1mm), pressed at right angles to each
other with special glue. The introduction of Plywood is a breakthrough that
changes the furniture industry in the world. Plywood is the only type of
industrial wood that can be soaked in water without adding any additives such
as moisture-resistant green core wood MDF, MFC.
·
Origin:
normal natural wood pulp
·
Structure:
thin to ultra-thin layers of wood are pressed and glued with opposite glue to
increase bearing capacity
·
Features:
o
No
cracking, no shrinkage, fewer termites
o
High
strength
o
Water-resistant
o
The
surface is usually bad and requires a surface sealer
5. Wood Plastic Composite (Wood Plastic Composite)
If
you like plastic because it's durable and cheap, but still like the classic
with the luxury of using wood, this is the type of core that will satisfy your
taste. Plastic wood planks were born based on the needs of users, the
hesitation between plastic cabinets and wooden cabinets, between plastic tables
and wooden tables, etc.
·
Origin:
processed wood pulp and plastic powder such as HDPE, PVC, PP, ABS, ...
·
Structure:
wood pulp and plastic powder are uniformly mixed, and after passing through the
fusion line, it will form a compound particle, and then be pressed into shapes
according to requirements.
·
Features:
o
Still
retains the surface of natural wood with the high durability of plastic
o
Low
degree of warping, almost inelastic, and high density and stiffness
o
No
termites, no rot, no chips or wood chips, and especially waterproof.
With
all the above characteristics, along with flexibility in production,
construction, and surface treatment, plastic wood has been gradually asserting
its position as a perfect substitute for natural wood.
However,
this is not a popular choice for most companies or families, because compared
to the industrial core, the wood veneer has a markedly higher cost. This creates
a point of hesitation for customers when just spending a little more can use
natural wood as furniture in the room and also limit the amount of plastic used
in the space.
Conclusion
Building a space to work, live and live for a long time, we
recommend that you spend a little time researching, learning to know how you
will work at the table, and step on the wooden planks. Or simply, how long will
those objects be with you? An office or a house does not necessarily have to
use the same type of wood. Of course, choosing one for all ' will save you more
time, but it will also increase your costs in non-conformities related to
maintenance and subsequent warranties.
PYRA Engineering has helped you to summarize the basics you
need to know about the popular laminates on the market.
Watch more: MEP Design
Watch more: Restaurant Design
Watch more: Office Design
Watch more: Leed Certificate
Watch more: Design Layout
Watch more: Design and Build
Watch more: Design & Build
Watch more: City Permit