What is Chipboard?

Chipboard is also known as particleboard and low-density board is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips and a synthetic resin or other suitable binders, which is pressed and extruded. Wood particles are glued together with an adhesive, under pressure and heat to manufacture chipboard. Chipboards are available in various sizes and thickness like high density, medium density and normal.

Chipboard sheets or particleboard have excellent mechanical properties and as it is available in various densities makes it best suited for floor decking. According to the environmental conditions, different grades of chipboards are used. Sawdust, wood chips obtained by shredding waste, recycled wood and softwood chips are used to manufacture chipboards. Chipboards sheets are only attractive when coated with melamine.

Chipboards have a significant influence on furniture design marketing from decades. In dry environments, veneered chipboards are preferred over veneered plywood because particleboard is cheap, stable and robust.

What is the difference between OSB and Chipboards?

OSB is essentially a board composed of wood strands, all of which are oriented or arranged in a manner that maximizes durability and strength. Whereas Chipboard is made of small wood particles which are glued together to form a sheet. Materials like sawdust, woodchips, shavings and other shredding waste are used to manufacture chipboards. OSB boards are more durable and sturdy than chipboards.

What is the Difference between Plywood and Particleboard?

Plywood is made from thin layers or piles of wood which is glued together. The wood layer used in plywood is typically made of softer wood like birch. Whereas chipboards are manufactured by using small wood particles which are glued together to form a sheet. Plywood layers are arranged in a cross-grain pattern where in case of particleboard wood shaving, wood particles and sawdust are mixed together with glues.

What is Chipboard Used For?

Depending on the density, chipboard is used for all kinds of different interior building and decorating projects.

The highest-density grades of chipboard are as follows:

• Kitchen worktops
• kitchen cabinets
• Flooring and underlay
• Flatpack furniture
• Building insulation

lower-density chipboard is also often used for:

• Inner elements of furniture
• Interior home accents
• Trims and mouldings
• Windows and doors
• Soundproofing and acoustics Insulation
• Packaging

What is the Difference between MDF boards and particleboard?

How is chipboard made

What are the advantages and disadvantages of chipboard?

Chipboards offer several advantages over other available alternatives like Plasterboards and OSB boards and plywoods and the advantages are as follows:

1. Cost advantages

Chipboards provide another alternative to solid wood and are reasonably priced. It plays as an economical alternative to solid wood for furniture manufacturing.

2. Environmental friendly

Chipboards are more environmentally friendly than other alternatives as it is manufactured from 70 per cent recycled materials.

3. Attractiveness

Variety of finishes are possible by covering the chipboard with laminate. Laminates like veneers, melamine, decorative laminates, Industrial laminates, and digitally printed laminates. To increase the appearance of the chipboards a sheet of real wood can also be attached n top.

4. Strength and Durability

Chipboard is a sturdy and durable material which under pressure will holp wu well and will protect the shipping item better than corrugated. When chipboard used to manufacture furniture instead of solid wood it will create strong furniture that too without weak spots.

And the disadvantages of Chipboards are as follows:

1. Moisture retention

Chipboards hold any moisture it comes in contact with and retains the moisture like a sponge. The board will swell and become unstable if left wet for a long time.

2. Cutting disadvantages

Chipboard does not cut well and always leave a rough edge. An appearance of a finished edge can be gained by using adhesive caps.

3. Cracking

Particleboards are prone to cracking particularly if you plan to drive nails or screws into the surface.

4. Splintering

Chipboards are also prone to splintering. There are various fasteners available in the market specially designed to use for chipboards but driving these fasteners near the edges of the chipboard is a strong risk and dicey proposition.

5. Adhesive Issues

When the adhesive fails when used with chipboard either because of improper application or heavy load. It will often pull a large piece of Chips with it and will damage the board.

Why is chipboard used for kitchen worktops?

High-density chipboards are rigid and hard-wearing which make them ideal for use as the carcass for a kitchen unit, Flooring and Worktops.

Can you waterproof chipboard?

There is no such thing as waterproof chipboard. Moisture resistant chipboards are available in the market and are better than the standard particleboards but still swells up if left wet for a long time.

Applications

• The range of product applications for Chipboard Includes:
• Packaging
• Interior Doors & Worktops
• Flooring
• Kitchens

All grades of chipboard have a coarse finish and most varieties tend to absorb water, which limits usage.

Originally published at https://build4less.co.uk/collections/chipboard on May 15, 2020.