Shear modulus, internal bond and density profile of medium density fibre board (MDF)

Abstract

For five different types of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) the correlation between in-plane shear properties (interlaminar shear, standard method prEN 789 Appendix B), internal bond and parameters derived from the density profile were determined. There are high correlations between interlaminar shear modulus (G xz, Gyz), shear strength and internal bond (IB) as well as between mean density and internal bond, shear modulus and shear strength. A correlation between the failure position and parameters derived from the density profile could not be established. 69% of the failures were found in the outer layers of the specimens (15–35% and 65–85% of thickness, respectively), even if the lowest density was found in the core layer. Failures in the centre of the specimens were found only when the lowest density was less than 30% of the mean density.