MDF - A New Member of the Family of Wood-Based Panels, 1995 European Polymers, Laminations and Coatings Proceedings

G.T.A. Rhodes

E. Gehrts

Euro MDF Board

MDF Medium Density Fibreboards are a relatively new addition to the family of wood-based panels. In Europe, their development began in the late seventies. The industry has witnessed extraordinary growth rates over the past years. At present, there is a genuine investment boom into MDF plants, and it is expected that the production capacity in Europe will double over the next two years.

The European Association of MDF Producers, Euro MDF Board (EMB), was founded in 1986. It has, since the beginning, been at the forefront of the development of common standards for MDF, both at the level of the industry and in European standardization. Furthermore, the industry has carried out comprehensive research and development projects concerning the properties and applications of MDF and has undertaken considerable efforts of joint marketing and promotion.

Users appreciate the possibilities of shaping and moulding of MDF, which can be achieved by direct routing, due to the homogeneous density distribution over the panel thickness, its compactness and fine fibrous structure. Another, much-appreciated characteristic of MDF is its highly stable and smooth surface, which allows direct paint finishing, but also all other kinds of laminating and overlay.

Producers and users are increasingly exposed to regulatory activities regarding the environmental impact of their products and processes and the recyclability of the materials used. Therefore, care has to be taken that both substrate materials (MDF) and overlays (including adhesives, where appropriate) are fully recyclable and do not present any environmental hazards.