AZ HDF wood: Structure, classification, advantages and disadvantages, applications, price quotes

HDF (High Density Fiberboard) is a type of industrial plywood with a high density of 800 - 1040 kg/m³, produced by pressing wood powder (80 - 85%) and additives (15 - 20%) under high temperature and pressure.

HDF boards are divided into 3 main types based on core color: white core HDF (retains natural color), green core HDF (good moisture resistance, density ≥840kg/m³) and black core HDF (highest water resistance with density over 1000 kg/m³). The outstanding advantages of HDF wood are high hardness, good bearing capacity with swelling of only 6 - 7% after 24 hours of soaking in water, lifespan of 15 - 20 years and meeting E1 safety standards (0.124 mg/m³ Formaldehyde).

According to the report of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association in 2024, HDF wood panels account for 25% of the industrial wood market share in furniture production in Vietnam. Prices range from 150.000 - 1.400.000 VND/panel depending on type and size. HDF boards are mainly used in the production of wooden floors, furniture and high-end industrial wooden doors.

“HDF panels with densities above 1000 kg/m³ exhibit outstanding water resistance and structural stability, making them the ideal choice for high-end industrial applications and high humidity environments.”

What is HDF wood?

Wood HDF (HDF plywood, high density fiberboard, HDF core, HDF industrial wood board, HDF board) is industrial wood plywood with high wood density, pressed under high temperature and pressure, with the English name High Density Fiberboard.

After harvesting, the wood will be boiled and dried to remove resin and water. Then the wood is crushed into powder, pressed with specialized additives to improve the durability and hardness of the material.

According to reports from reputable units in the field of construction and interior design, Kosmos has compiled information that the average density of HDF wood ranges from 800 - 1040 kg/m³, 1.3 - 1.5 times higher than MDF wood (680 - 840 kg/m³).

The solid structure and high density help HDF industrial wood panels have outstanding hardness, good load-bearing and moisture-resistant capacity, becoming the top choice for interior applications, wooden floors, wooden doors, etc.

What is the structure of HDF wood core?

HDF plywood is made up of two main components: wood powder and additives.

• 80 – 85% wood pulp: The main raw materials for producing HDF wood are wood waste such as shavings, sawdust, branches, tree tops and short-term wood. This wood powder is finely ground and dried at a temperature of 1000℃ – 2000℃ to remove all resin and water.
• 15 – 20% binder, additives: Including adhesive (usually Urea-Formaldehyde glue or Melamine-Formaldehyde glue) and other additives such as moisture-proof, fire-retardant, termite-proof, etc. Additives will help increase the hardness, durability and moisture resistance of HDF boards.

How many types of HDF wood are there?

Based on information published by reputable units, Kosmos found that depending on the wood material, additives and production process, HDF wood will have different core colors. From there, it is divided into 3 main types: white core HDF, green core HDF and black core HDF.

HDF white core

White core HDF is a type of plywood that retains the natural color of the wood, without going through any bleaching or dyeing process. Therefore, white core HDF is very safe for the health of users, does not contain toxic chemicals, and is environmentally friendly.

Blue Core HDF

Green core HDF wood is a high-end product line, with outstanding moisture and water resistance thanks to its extremely high density, up to 900kg/m³. The characteristic of green core HDF is the light green color in the core, taken from natural organic industrial color that is safe for health and environmentally friendly. However, this green color can fade over time.

Nowadays, many users buy fake green core HDF products that do not meet quality standards. It should be noted that the green color of the wood core is not the deciding factor in the moisture resistance of HDF boards, but the pressing density.

HDF black core

Black core HDF is a product line that is highly water and moisture resistant thanks to being pressed at a pressure of over 1000kg/m³, the highest of the 3 types of HDF. As the name suggests, the identifying feature of black core HDF is the black color of the core board. With excellent water resistance, black core HDF becomes the ideal choice for spaces with high humidity.

Advantages and disadvantages of HDF wood core

HDF boards are increasingly popular in life with many outstanding advantages and some limitations that users need to pay attention to below.

Advantages of HDF board

With many years of experience in the industry, Kosmos has compiled and analyzed information from reliable sources to confirm the advantages of HDF wood: high hardness, good bearing capacity, termite resistance, good screw holding ability, high aesthetics and safety for human health.

High hardness, load-bearing, water-resistant, good termite resistance

Thanks to being produced from wood chips pressed under high pressure and temperature, HDF boards have an extremely solid structure, high density, and good load-bearing capacity. This feature helps HDF industrial wood boards to be less prone to warping, shrinkage, and deformation due to external impacts.

At the same time, the product also has excellent water resistance, good waterproofing, suitable for use in many areas, including places with high humidity. Results from 24-hour water immersion experiments show that the HDF board swelling is only 6% - 7%, within the allowable limit and ensures product quality.

HDF wood core has good screw holding ability

The solid structure of HDF plywood helps create excellent grip for screws, ensuring the firmness and safety of furniture. Thanks to that, users can easily construct and install interior details without worrying about looseness or slipping during use. The average lifespan of HDF plywood is usually between 15 and 20 years when used and maintained properly.

Safe for human health

HDF boards are produced from natural wood materials, go through a strict processing process, remove toxic substances, meet E1 standards (0.124 mg/m³) according to Circular 04/2023/TT-BXD issued by the Ministry of Construction regulating Formaldehyde emissions.

At the same time, thanks to modern production technology, HDF plywood has almost no unpleasant odor, ensuring safety for users' health.

HDF wood has high aesthetic value

The surface of HDF wood is smooth, without wood eyes or wood grain, creating favorable conditions for decoration with advanced surface coatings such as Laminate, Aluminum Oxide, UV, Melamine, Veneer, etc., creating rich and diverse colors and wood grain, simulating natural wood grain in a delicate and vivid way.

Disadvantages of HDF board

The two limitations of HDF boards are high cost and difficulty in processing.

High price

Due to the complex production process and the use of special materials, HDF plywood is often more expensive than some other types of industrial wood. However, compared to natural wood, HDF industrial wood is still cheaper and suitable for many customers.

Difficult to process

HDF wood is more difficult to process than other types of industrial wood due to its high hardness. Therefore, cutting, bending, and shaping HDF wood requires high techniques and specialized machinery.

What is HDF wood used for?

According to market surveys conducted by reputable organizations in the field of construction and interior design, Kosmos warehouse found that HDF boards are widely used in furniture and decoration production.

Laminate flooring production

HDF core is the main material for the production of industrial Laminate flooring today. Normally, after surface treatment, HDF wood will be pressed with an additional base layer. Then it is sent to the cutting line according to available sizes. Then it continues to be pressed with an additional layer to create wood grain and finally a surface coating is added to create laminate flooring.

HDF core laminate flooring has high durability, good load-bearing capacity, scratch resistance, moisture resistance, suitable for installation in all living spaces from living room, bedroom to kitchen and many other commercial spaces such as restaurants, hotels, ...

Make furniture

HDF boards are also used to make furniture such as: kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, shoe cabinets, TV shelves, study tables, desks, beds, etc. The advantages of furniture made from HDF wood are high durability, good load-bearing capacity, less warping, termite resistance and suitable for hot and humid climates.

Making HDF industrial wooden doors

HDF board is the ideal material for producing high-quality industrial wooden doors such as bedroom doors, connecting doors with high durability and load-bearing capacity, not warping or shrinking over time. In addition, using HDF wood for doors also helps reduce the load of the construction, avoid sagging doors during use and effectively reduce noise, bringing a comfortable living space for users.

Application of HDF wood in interior wall cladding

HDF wood is not only used for floors, doors or furniture but also wall cladding material. Ask for a favor high hardness, good bearing capacity and moisture resistance, HDF panels covered with Laminate, Melamine or Veneer are often used to cover the walls of living rooms, bedrooms, hallways or headboard areas.

Compared to the cheap wall cladding materials Like PVC or wallpaper, HDF wood brings a more luxurious and natural feeling. The smooth, flat surface is easy to construct, combined with wood grain colors such as oak, walnut, walnut... to create a harmonious and warm space. In particular, HDF green core moisture-proof is the ideal choice for areas with high humidity such as apartments or townhouses in Vietnam.

How much is HDF wood?

Below is the HDF core wood price list compiled by Kosmos in February 2:

Note: The above price is for reference only and may vary depending on the time and place of purchase.

Some frequently asked questions about HDF wood core

Comparing HDF and MDF wood, which is better?

HDF wood and MDF wooden Both are types of industrial wood made from wood powder and additives, but they have the following differences:

What are the stages of HDF core wood production process?

Based on data collected by Kosmos from authentic sources, the HDF industrial wood panel production process includes the following 4 steps:

1. Process materials: Wood chips, branches, tree tops and other short-term timber are collected and processed by chopping, drying and grinding into fine powder.
2. Mix glue and additives: Wood powder is mixed with glue and additives in certain proportions.
3. High pressure pressing: A mixture of wood powder, glue and additives is pressed under high pressure and temperature to form HDF wood panels (3 – 25mm thick).
4. Surface treatment: After pressing, the HDF board will be surface processed by sanding, coating, etc.

Supplier of quality HDF core Laminate flooring?

Kosmos Vietnam is one of the suppliers of quality HDF core Laminate flooring with a warehouse area of ​​up to 10.000m². The most prominent is the line HDF green core laminate flooring Integrated with an additional layer of 1.5mm thick IXPE rubber.

>>> Rubber base laminate flooring construction | HDF green core Laminate flooring.

In addition to Kosmos HDF core wooden flooring Kosmos Made in Vietnam, Kosmos also provides many lines of HDF industrial wooden flooring imported from Germany and Malaysia such as Egger, Robina,… for more than 500 agents nationwide. This gives customers many choices in quality and material design.

7 popular Robina Aqua Laminate flooring colors

3 beautiful Egger Aqua wooden floor models

>>> Is German industrial Laminate flooring expensive? | Quote for Egger HDF core Laminate flooring.

What is Melamine coated HDF board?

Melamine-coated HDF industrial wood board is a type of wood with a structure consisting of HDF core wood and a surface layer of Melamine resin. The outstanding advantage of adding a layer of Melamine increases gloss, increases aesthetics and is waterproof, helping users to clean and wipe quickly.

How to choose good quality HDF board?

To choose high-quality HDF boards, prioritize products with clear origins, preferably imported products because of modern production processes and strict inspection. Check the quality certificates carefully, especially the parameters of compression, strength and expansion.

Regarding health safety, choose the type that meets E1 standards to avoid being affected by FormaldehydeIn addition, you should choose boards produced from planted or regenerated forests to protect the environment.

HDF wood is one of the most popular industrial wood materials today thanks to its outstanding advantages in hardness, moisture resistance, strength and high aesthetics. With 3 types of HDF plywood: white core, green core and black core, users can choose the type that suits their needs and space conditions.