composite / Timber-Based Composite / Fibre/Strand-Based Panel
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF), standard or HMR (3mm, 4.75mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 16mm, 18mm, 25mm, 32mm)
Dense, smooth fibreboard panel for interior use; consistent machining and finishing performance.
Atlas code
COM-TBC-FSP-003
At-a-glance signals
Dense, smooth fibreboard panel for interior use; consistent machining and finishing performance.
Overview
Executive summary
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) is made from wood fibres bonded with resin under heat and pressure, producing a smooth, uniform panel used for joinery, furniture and interior linings.
Best when…
- Uniform density enables consistent machining
- Smooth surface ideal for painting and laminating
- No grain direction allowing flexible design
- Excellent screw holding in face
- Available in E0 low-emission grades
- Wide thickness range available
- Cost-effective compared to solid timber
- FSC/PEFC certified options available
Top advantages
- 01 Uniform density enables consistent machining
- 02 Smooth surface ideal for painting and laminating
- 03 No grain direction allowing flexible design
- 04 Excellent screw holding in face
- 05 Available in E0 low-emission grades
Top limitations
- 01 Poor moisture resistance in standard grades
- 02 Not suitable for exterior applications
- 03 Permanent thickness swell when wet
- 04 Requires edge sealing to prevent moisture ingress
- 05 Dust extraction essential during machining
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 690-770 kg/m3 Greenpanel MDF technical specifications by thickness.
- Specific gravity
- 0.75-0.85
- Porosity
- 45-55 %
- Water absorption
- 15-35 %
- Hardness
- 400-600
- UV resistance
- Low // Requires protective coating
- Chemical resistance
- Moderate // pH 5-9 tolerance
- pH tolerance
- 5-9
- Surface roughness
- 3-10 µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 0.5-0.7 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 10-15 MPa
- Flexural strength
- 22-27 MPa Greenpanel MDF minimum MOR by thickness.
- Shear strength
- 0.60-0.70 MPa Internal bond strength (min) by thickness.
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.25
- Impact resistance
- Low-Medium // Qualitative assessment
- Creep resistance
- Low // Under sustained load
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·5
- Embodied carbon
- -0.8 // kg CO₂e/kg [FWPA EPD]
- Carbon footprint
- -600 to -750 // kg CO₂e/m³ negative due to sequestration [FWPA EPD S-P-00563 v1.1 2017] [HIGH]
- Embodied energy
- 9-11 MJ/kg // MJ/kg [FWPA EPD]
- Recycled content
- 0-20 % // % - Post-industrial wood waste
- Renewable content
- 82-87 % // % - Wood fibre content
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
- Combustibility class
- Combustible // AS 1530.1 [HIGH]
- Fire resistance level
- Not rated // Requires system testing
- Ignition temp
- 280-300 °C // °C
- Flame spread index
- 7-8
- Smoke dev. index
- 3-5
- Heat release rate
- 120-150 // kW/m²
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·5
- Material cost (range)
- $15-80 // per m² varies by thickness and grade
- Material cost (per unit)
- $25-45 // per m² for 16-18mm standard
- Lead time
- Immediate-7 days // Stock items vs custom
- Annual maintenance
- $0-5 // per m² interior applications
- Market availability
- Readily available // Stock items nationwide
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 25-50 // years interior applications
- Maintenance interval
- 5-10 // years for recoating
- Warranty period
- 0-10 // years manufacturer specific
Layer D
Where it's used
Interior wall linings
Cabinet construction and furniture
Drawer bottoms and backing boards
Architraves and skirting boards
Shop fitting and display units
Acoustic panels (perforated variants)
Decorative mouldings
Door cores