Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming it into panels by applying high temperature and pressure. MDF is considered an upgrade from plywood and particle board and is used as a real wood alternative. It does not contain knots or rings, making it more uniform than natural woods during cutting and in service. However, MDF is not entirely isotropic since the fibres are pressed tightly together through the sheet.
MDF has a hard, flat, smooth surface that makes it ideal for veneering, as no underlying grain is available to telegraph through the thin veneer as with plywood. A so-called "premium" MDF is available that features more uniform density throughout the thickness of the panel. Veneered MDF provides many of the advantages of MDF with a decorative wood veneer surface layer.
MDF is a synthetic product comprised essentially of recycled wood particles and wood fibers held together by a resin binder or wax and compressed to form flat sheets. It is similar to plywood and is used for many of the same purposes, but the panels have no visible grain, since they are made from pulverized wood fibers rather than thin layers of actual wood, as is the case with plywood.
Pros of MDF include affordability, strength, durability, and eco-friendliness. Cons include vulnerability to seasonal expansion and contraction, higher cost compared to particle board, and susceptibility to pests. MDF is not suitable for areas subject to humidity or moisture, such as bathrooms, as it cannot get wet.
