Plywood
From MaterialProject.org, the free architectural material catalog
Contents |
Material analysis
MasterFormat 06055:
Traditional uses
- Used as applied material in construction for simple structures.
- Acts as a substrate for other materials in a typical interior or exterior environment.
Emerging uses / trends
- Bent formed furniture.
- Applications of stained and bent interior finishes.
Finish and aesthetic qualities
- Comes in wide variety of wood species.
- Species group number range from 1 to 5 with wood from the species of tress in group 1 being the strongest and stiffest, e.g. beech, and 5 being the lest stiff and strong, e.g. basswood or poplar.
- Aesthetics depend on quality of the veneer material and type of grain/cut.
- Veneer grades rated N, A, B, C or D with N being the highest quality and D the lowest according to degree of knots, splits and stitching permitted.
- A pair of veneer grades, such as “A-B” indicate that one side is rated A and the other side B.
- Sanded, unsanded, and stained finishes available.
Surface forms / shapes
- Industry standard dimensions available that can be custom cut and/or bent.
Cost analysis
- Price / SqFt: varies depending on thickness and grade of wood veneer as well as interior or exterior applicaton.
Material properties
Primary structural use
- Compression and applied to construction e.g. as a substrate.
Material performance
- Strong & Flexible
Dimensional and opening restriction
- Standard thickness of 1/4” - 1 1/4”.
- Typical sheet sizes of 4’x8’ and 4’x10’.
- Other sizes are manufactured in 12” increments of 36”, 48” and 60” and in 9ft lengths.
- Openings to be framed with joists or studs depending on application.
- Sanded panels range in thickness from 1/4” to 1 1/4” or more in steps of 1/8”.
- Unsanded panels range from 5/16” to 1 1/4” or more.
- Custom shapes can be cut from standard panel sizes.
Acoustic property
- Plywood is utilized for acoustical control due to its absorptive qualities.
- Perforated or slotted plywood panels are available for increased acoustical control.
Manufacturing process and assembly
- Plywood is an engineered wood, or composite material, made from thin sheets of wood veneer or plies. Plies are stacked together with the direction of each ply’s grain differing from its neighbors’ by 90° cross banding. Plies are bonded under heat pressure with strong adhesives. It is more resistant to cracking, shrinkage, twisting/warping and in general has a higher degree of strength than plain wood.
- 1/8” spacing on installed panels is recommended to allow for expanding and contracting of panels according to varying moisture and temperature conditions. This will minimalizes buckling of panels.
Environment and Life Safety
Environmental impact
- Production of synthetic resins used in plywood manufacture is energy consuming:
- Energy is used in cutting and pressing the veneers.
- Many plywoods are imported so have energy costs from transportation.
- Plywood is more efficient in use than sawn timber with some wood species yielding up to 90% usable veneers.
- Formaldeyde resins are the most common bonding agent used to produce the plywood and will offgas.
- Burning plywood may release harmful gases such as hydrogen cyanide from the resins.
- Manufacturers may adhere to Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Smart Wood certified forestry, which set principles integrating perpetual growing and protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality.
Flammability rating
- Fire retardant treatments available through coating or impregnation of material. Note that some fire retardant coated material does not meet code requirements for structural uses.
- Plywood fire retardant treated construction standards of 0-25 Flame Spread Rating, Class I.
Coefficient of friction
References
Notes
- The Engineered Wood Assoc.
- * Veneer Solutions. Reston, VA: Architectural Woodwork Institute, 1998.
Student contributions
- Nico Flannery, Fall 2005
- Michelle Aberbach, Spring 2008
See also
Similar materials
External links
Additional resources
- Boulter Plywood (Local Resource)
Leading manufacturers
