What is MDF?
Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down real wood residuals into wood fibers and glued back together with special resin by applying high temperature and pressure.
What is Particleboard?
Particleboard is produced in a similar way as MDF. In both products, the same wood and resin is used. However, wood fibers in particleboard are bigger than that of MDF. (Furniture Design Magazine June 2002)
| Explanation | MDF | Particleboard |
| Furniture with dowel and gluing | By using the right glue, MDF will be the best choice because of its small fibers. | Particleboard could not produce the best result in this area. |
| KD (flat packed) with minifix | In modern way of assembling flat furniture, MDF is not as strong as particleboard. In all flat packed products, spreading dowel or similar element will be used. MDF’s cohesiveness with this sort of element is not as perfect. | Particleboard is the best product to use the modern techniques of assembly. Particleboard will be the best choice, if the furniture is flat packed and minifix style connecting fittings are used. |
| Weight question | MDF has a density of 750-800 kg/m3. It weights 10-15% more than a particleboard. | Particleboard has a density of 650-700 kg/m3. |
| Bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms | MDF will increase the weight of the product. Being resistance to water has no use in bedrooms or living rooms. | The right quality of chipboard will outperform MDF. The chipboard will produce much better results, because most furniture’s are produced with modern connection techniques. |
| Kitchen | MDF outperforms chipboard because it is water resistant | When a particleboard is soaked into water, it is probable that it will lose its characteristics in a short time. |
From the information above, it is obvious that each product has its place. The particleboard holds screws and other connecting fittings well; on the other hand, MDF has a smoother finishing and is more water resistant.
Yet, too many people think that particleboard is hunks of wood haphazardly glued together. Not true. In many uses in modern furniture production, particleboard will greatly outperform MDF.
One must remember that within itself, each product has its own qualities. Let’s take the example of particleboard; there is a WORLD of difference between GOOD particleboard, and cheap particleboard. And a high quality of particleboard in home furniture will outperform MDF.
Where MDF should be used?
MDF has the best moisture (water) resistant. Moisture actually means the product is being exposed directly with water. Therefore, using MDF on kitchen counter tops and below it would be best choice.
General Idea of the Public
The main problem is that people have developed a mentality over time that the MDF is better because of its heaviness and its resistance to water. They go further and they are even willing to pay more for products made from MDF. This is absolutely not necessary. If the home furniture producer is using the high quality of chipboard in their products, this would be the best thing the consumer should get.
