What is MDF board and how is it made?
What is MDF board and how is it made?
So what is MDF board? MDF, which stands for “medium-density fiberboard,” looks like real wood cut straight from a tree, but is actually recycled pieces of wood pressed together with adhesive under conditions of high temperature and heat. MDF board has many benefits besides the low cost.
Is MDF wood good for doors?
MDF is high-density wood which means, it’s very strong and will keep hinges and screws in place even when these are constantly used. This is why MDF doors and door panels, cabinet doors, and bookshelves are popular. It is cheaper than regular wood MDF is engineered wood and thus, it’s cheaper compared to natural wood.
How do I know if my furniture is made from MDF?
How to tell if your furniture is made from MDF While MDF mimics real wood, there are ways to tell the difference if you examine it closely. For instance, although MDF might have what looks like a natural grain, it might feel unusually smooth; or if you spot a repeating grain pattern, that’s a dead giveaway it’s fake.
What are the best alternatives to MDF furniture?
She recommends choosing wood furniture with labels saying it’s certified by the Forest Steward Council and that uses adhesives with some sort of green certification. Based on her research, Lee also thinks plywoods made with phenol formaldehyde resin, which may off-gas less than MDF furniture, could be another decent alternative.
Is MDF board toxic?
MDF board is raising some health concerns because it’s made with an adhesive containing urea-formaldehyde (or urea-methanal formaldehyde), which “off-gasses” into its surroundings. One study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that high levels of this formaldehyde can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.
Is MDF safe to use?
While the jury is still out on what levels of MDF, if any, are safe, Lee recommends avoiding MDF wood whenever possible. “Put simply, there is no good way to have urea-formaldehyde in your life,” she says. Another silver lining to this potentially toxic material? MDF board doesn’t off-gas indefinitely.
How much formaldehyde is in MDF?
Because of the health hazards MDF presents, the U.S. government passed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act in 2010, which sets limits on how much formaldehyde home products can contain—in this case, a max of 0.11 ppm (parts per millions).
