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1. Reference Standards for Selecting the Environmental Protection Level of Board Materials
According to domestic environmental protection standards, based on the concept of formaldehyde emission limits, the formaldehyde limit levels in wood-based panels are divided into the following three levels:
grade
Formaldehyde content
E0
≤0.5mg/L
E1
≤1.5mg/L
E2
≤5.0mg/L
The E0 standard allows for the presence of formaldehyde in wood-based panels, but the maximum limit is 0.5 mg/L. The lower limit should be the highest formaldehyde content inherent in the panel itself (the formaldehyde content of wood is generally 0.12 mg/L–0.04 mg/L), meaning the lower limit is 0.12 mg/L. "Zero formaldehyde" means that the materials used are formaldehyde-free, and no formaldehyde is produced during the production process; it causes no pollution or harm to the environment or production workers. Therefore, we can define "zero formaldehyde" panels as follows: the free formaldehyde in the panel is less than or equal to the formaldehyde content of the wood itself (generally 0.04 mg/L–0.12 mg/L). "Zero formaldehyde" panels and E0 are not the same thing; in principle, "zero formaldehyde" panels are one level higher than E0. In China, panels meeting the E2 standard are sufficient. E2, E1, and E0 grade panels can all be called environmentally friendly panels, but due to increased consumer awareness of environmental protection, E1 and even E0 grade panels are now more common on the market.
2. Main classifications of boards:
Commonly used building materials for home decoration can be broadly categorized into nine types: MDF, particleboard, veneer, blockboard, plywood, melamine board, engineered wood, OSB, and formaldehyde-free strawboard. However, due to varying household requirements, the most commonly used materials on the market are currently blockboard and engineered wood (finger-jointed board), with smaller quantities of melamine board, veneer (molded board), MDF, particleboard, and plywood. Homeowners can purchase different types of materials depending on their intended use. These materials generally have a fixed size of approximately 2440×1200mm, meaning each sheet is approximately 2.88 square meters. Homeowners can roughly calculate the required number of sheets based on their actual needs. Currently, most families only need to purchase blockboard and finger-jointed board, and in terms of environmental friendliness, quality, and practicality, blockboard and finger-jointed board are superior to the other types of materials.
(1) Plywood:
Its scientific name is plywood. It is made of two veneers with a core of glued and pressed wood strips. It is composed of parallel strips of wood of the same thickness but different lengths, tightly spliced together, and is generally a five-layer structure.
Uses: To make door frames, window frames, or ceilings, as well as some closets.
Specifications: Thickness varies from approximately 1.2cm to 2.5cm, with 1.6cm to 2.0cm being the standard thickness for home use. Thicker thicknesses are needed for larger cabinet doors, etc. In terms of environmental protection, E1 grade is generally sufficient for most households. Prices vary considerably depending on the grade and core material.
Environmental protection level: Major brands commonly use E1, E0, and zero formaldehyde; smaller brands also have E2 grade boards.
Selection: The splicing of wood cores can be done by hand or machine. In addition to meeting environmental protection requirements, good plywood should have a tight wood core without gaps. This can be seen from the cut cross-section.
(2) Laminated wood (finger joint board)
Also known as plywood, the most common type of board on the market is made of poplar or fir wood spliced together using methods such as finger jointing or slit jointing. The type that is directly joined is usually called finger-jointed board.
Applications: Integrated panels have high utilization rate and good processing performance. They can be directly manufactured into straight and curved shapes, and are naturally beautiful. They are mainly used for making cabinets.
Specifications: The thickness is generally 18mm, but 16mm is also available.
Environmental protection level: Major brands commonly use E1, E0, and zero formaldehyde; smaller brands also have E2 grade boards.
Selection: Generally, good finger-jointed boards have fewer knots, a uniform and smooth wood color, and tight, dense joints. Prices also vary depending on the thickness of the board; the standard thickness is 18mm.
(3) Melamine board
The full name is melamine-impregnated paperboard, a type of engineered wood product. It is made by soaking paper with different colors or textures in melamine resin adhesive, then drying it to a certain degree of curing. It is usually laid on the surface of particleboard, medium-density fiberboard, or hardboard and then hot-pressed to form a decorative board.
Applications: Can imitate various patterns, with bright colors, used as a veneer for various engineered wood panels and wood, high hardness, wear resistance, and good heat resistance. Smooth and glossy surface, easy to maintain and clean. Also used for cabinet frames.
Specifications: Thickness 16-20mm
Environmental protection levels: E1 and E2 are more common.
Selection: Check the side edge sealing condition, which should generally reach 1-2mm.
(4) Decorative panels
Also known as veneer or plywood, it is made by slicing or rotary cutting natural wood into thin sheets 0.2-1mm thick, which are then glued onto substrates such as plywood, fiberboard, and particleboard after being inlaid with patterns. This material has a clear texture and natural color, making it a relatively high-end decorative material.
Applications: The decorative panels on the market generally include teak veneer, walnut veneer, birch veneer, maple veneer, ash veneer, beech veneer, etc. They are generally used as partitions in the visible parts of cabinets.
Specifications: Generally 2.6-3mm
Environmental protection levels: E1 and E2 are more common.
Purchasing: The price of decorative panels varies greatly depending on the material. Therefore, when using decorative panels, homeowners must understand the material and grade of the panels to ensure both price and quality.
(5) Particleboard
Also known as particleboard or bagasse board, it is a type of engineered wood product made from wood chips or other lignocellulosic materials that are glued together with adhesives under heat and pressure.
Uses: Used in small quantities as an auxiliary material for plywood, in built-in closets and display cabinets. The main advantage of this type of board is its extremely low price.
Specifications: Particleboard is classified into three types according to product density: low density (0.25~0.45 g/cm3), medium density (0.55~0.70 g/cm3), and high density (0.75~1.3 g/cm3). Particleboard comes in many specifications, with 19 mm being the standard thickness. Commonly used thicknesses are 13, 16, and 19 mm.
Environmental protection levels: E1 and E2 are more common.
When choosing particleboard: First, look at the cross-section; the larger the particles inside, the better, because larger particles make the board more securely nailed. Second, check the environmental protection rating.
(6) MDF
Also known as fiberboard, it is a type of engineered wood product or composite board. It is made from wood fibers or other plant fibers bonded together with urea-formaldehyde resin or other suitable adhesives. Due to its poor nail-holding power, it is not suitable for home decoration.
Applications: Based on their density, particleboard is classified into high-density fiberboard (HDF), medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and low-density fiberboard (LDF). In other countries, particleboard usually refers to low-density fiberboard. It is also used in small quantities as an auxiliary material for plywood.
Specifications: The thickness is generally 8-25mm, and there may be slight differences in specifications depending on the brand.
Environmental protection levels: E1, E2, and E0 are all available.
Selection criteria: For good quality MDF, the surface should be free of obvious particles; it should feel smooth to the touch; the surface should be bright and flat, and a hard board is definitely a low-quality product.
(7) Plywood
Also known as plywood, or in the industry as thin-core board. It is made of three or more layers of 1mm thick veneers or thin sheets glued and hot-pressed together. It is made by rotary cutting logs into veneers or slicing timber into thin sheets, and then gluing them together with adhesive to form three or more layers of thin plywood, such as three-ply, five-ply, seven-ply, etc., odd-numbered plywood.
Uses: Used in small quantities as an auxiliary material for plywood.
Specifications: Plywood is generally available in six specifications: 3mm, 5mm, 9mm, 12mm, 15mm, and 18mm (1mm is equal to 1mm), with 21mm and 25mm also available. Environmental protection level: E1 and E2 are more common.
Selection: The plywood should not have any damage, dents, rot, knots, cracks, dents, stains, or rough spots. Use a sharp blade to pry open the plywood along the glue layer. If the glue layer is damaged but the wood is not, it indicates that the bonding quality is poor.