Terminology

• Particleboard / chipboard: chip-based panel; often confused with OSB, which uses machined flakes and is stronger
• Underlayment: particleboard under vinyl flooring in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries
• Veneered particleboard: preferred over veneered plywood in dry environments for stability and cost
• ANSI A208.1: particleboard standard named in the building code

History and demand

Invention

• 1887: composite board concepts date to this year; 1932 Max Himmelheber patented a process; 1935 Farley and Loetscher Manufacturing Co. built the first particleboard plant; the industry grew in the 1940s

Sourcing

• Wood-based panels overall: China about 41 to 45 percent of world output, the United States about 8 to 12 percent, India and Russia about 4 to 5 percent each (FAO editions)

Composition and production

Manufacturing process

• Wood or jute-stick particles dried, screened, and sprayed with resin; formed into a mat, cold-pressed, then hot-pressed at 2 to 3 MPa and 140 to 220°C, cooled, trimmed, and sanded

Properties

Physical

• Denser than conventional wood; higher density gives greater strength and screw resistance

Thermal and moisture

• Susceptible to swelling and discoloration from moisture, especially when unpainted or unsealed; rarely used outdoors

Standards

Material specifications

• ANSI A208.1: particleboard

Uses in buildings

Building elements

• Flush Wood Doors: particleboard door cores
• Floor Underlayment: underlayment beneath vinyl flooring
• Cabinetry and Casework: core of veneered and laminated cabinets and furniture

Pros and cons

Pros

• Cheaper and more uniform than wood or plywood
• Stable under veneer in dry interiors

Cons

• Swells and discolors when wet
• Releases formaldehyde slowly over time; the WHO classifies formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen
• Weakest of the fiberboards other than insulation board

Sustainability

Health

• Particleboard, MDF, OSB, and laminate flooring are major formaldehyde emission sources; "no added formaldehyde" versions existed but were not in common use as of 2015

Manufacturing and cost

Main manufacturers and suppliers

• Roseburg

Trade association: Composite Panel Association.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Particle board, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board
• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 23 wood, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/23/wood
• Wikimedia Commons: Particle board close up-horizontal-f22 PNr°0101.jpg, photo by D-Kuru (CC BY-SA 3.0 at), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Particle_board_close_up-horizontal-f22_PNr°0101.jpg