Properties of Particle Board Related to Its Use in Furniture Manufacture

Data on particle boards properties are detailed provide general information on its advantages and limitations in furniture manufacture. Compared to lumber core, particle board is superior in hardness, dimensional stability, low thermal conductivity, and freedom from defects. Lumber core is superior, in general, to particle board in bending and tensile strength, screwholding ability, machinability and density. Furniture made with particle board with a specific gravity between 0.55 and 0.80 is most readily accepted by the buying public. Dense particle board has lower dimensional stability which may be more important than strength. Ease of veneering and surface qualities are improved by the use of fines on the surface to fill gaps and give a smooth, even surface. Stability is more easily accomplished in a homogeneous particle board than with any but the finest wood. Additives which inhibit moisture pickup are added to many particle boards. Other steps to improve stability include reducing the surface area of particles, densifying particles, and covering other surfaces available to moisture entry. Springback due to internal forces is reduced by storing boards in a humidifier, control of resin, and density control. Strength required of particle board in furniture is often overstated. Caughey feels an MOR of 1500 psi is required for quality panels to be veneered. Most furniture particle board is safely above this value; veneering and crossbanding can increase bending strength three fold. Other important strength factors are tensile strength, shear strength, toughness, hardness, compressive strength, and MOE. Stiffness is important under continuous loading as is creep or long time deflection. Tests show single-layered unveneered particle board is not suitable for shelving without more support than used for solid wood. Veneered boards were twice as stiff and 1/3 to 1/2 more resistant to creep in an English study cited. Screwholding ability for 0.55-0.80 density particle boards is lower than lumber, but no standard for this requirement exists. Density, which can be controlled, largely determines this property. To a lesser extent resin content, chip orientation, particle size and shape, etc., influence screwholding. Adding resin to the pilot hole and using pilot holes 75 percent of screw diameter greatly enhances screwholding.

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