A man who works with MDF, a kind of flake board.
Flakeboard is a term that generally refers to a variety of manufactured wood products that are used in many aspects of construction. These products are made from smaller pieces of wood bonded together with resins, pressed into panels, and cut into boards. There are many different types of these plates, also called clusters or cumulus. They are distinguished by the size of the wooden parts and the strength of the finished product. Flakeboard is also the name of one of the companies that makes these products.
Melamine coated non-stick plate.
Different types of flake board can be made from virtually any type of wood, with different sources, from whole logs to chips and sawmill chips. Boards are made in the same basic way. First, the wood particles are sprinkled or sprayed with some type of resin that acts as a binder. The type of resin used varies depending on the type of board being made. The particles are then joined or fused using heat and pressure, which is commonly achieved by pressing a mass of resin-treated particles in a heated press. After that, the product is cut to the desired length and width.
Some of the different types of chipboard include standard particleboard, waferboard, oriented strand board or OSB, and medium density fiberboard or MDF. Standard chipboard uses very small pieces of wood, such as wood chips, sawmill chips, sawdust, and by-products from paper manufacturing. Wafer board uses larger wood chips, usually rectangular in shape and uniform in size. OBS is made of wafer board-like pieces, the pieces are oriented so that they face the same direction on each layer, with the directions of the layers perpendicular to each other. MDF is made from very fine particles that are manufactured using a steam process that softens and changes them chemically and physically, resulting in an extremely smooth and versatile finished product.
The uses of flake board are numerous and varied. The stronger types have multiple uses in construction, such as structural panels, floor coverings, walls, roof sheathing, and stair treads. Flakeboard is also used for shelves, cabinets, countertops, furniture, and to build partitions. Use in construction and design is widespread. It is easy to work with, strong, durable, and often cheaper than whole wood.
Chipboard can often be veneered to make it look more attractive. Countless patterns, solid colors, and finishes are available, giving it the look of stone, marble, natural wood, or anything else a person can imagine. During the manufacturing process, additional substances can be added to make it resistant to fire, wear and moisture, increasing its usefulness.