Blockboard is a widely used form of engineering plywood that is made by sandwiching the core of softwood strips between layers of wooden veneer. The block board with a single veneer on both sides of softwood is usually called a 3-ply. These plywoods are generally used for making objects like tables & benches, beds, bookshelves, doors, and long wall panels.
Because of the added layers of veneer wood, block boards are comparatively stronger and more durable than regular timber.
Types of Block board
Based on the quality, usage and the base wood, blockboard can be classified into the following 4 types:
Based on the raw woods
- Softwood block board
- Hardwood block board
Based on the quality & usage
- Interior grade block board
- Exterior grade block board
1. Softwood block board
These types of block boards are made using solid softwood. The strips of wood are glued together and then sandwiched between layers of hardwood veneers to form a strong board.
2. Hardwood block board
The only difference between hardwood and softwood block board is the raw material, which in case of hardwood board is hardwood, which makes the final board stronger and more heavy and dense. It’s also more expensive compared to other types.
3. Interior grade block board
This type of block board is primarily used for making interior wood objects such as furniture. It’s said to have very good moisture resistance, which makes it ideal to use for making objects with frequent access to water.
4. Exterior grade block board
As the name suggests, this type of blockboard is ideal for making exterior wood objects such as outdoor furniture. These boards are quite strong and have very good resistance against moisture, heat and other environmental conditions.
Block Board Manufacturing Process
The process of manufacturing block boards is very crucial, as the quality & strength of a block board very much depend on its manufacturing process.
The standard block board manufacturing process is as follows:
1. Slicing
The wood logs and cut and sliced to produce sheets, called strips. The block strips are usually 25 mm in width.
2. Rotary Cutting
The second step is producing the veneer coating, which involves rotary cutting the logs to make the outer layer.
3. Gluing
The wood slices, or strips, are then glued together using adhesives like Urea formaldehyde and plastic resin under high-pressure conditions.
4. Drying
After the gluing process, the blocks are left in the sun for naturally drying in order to reduce the moisture and water content. The drying process continues until the humidity reduces to 10-12%, after which the blocks are processed to the next stage.
5. Attaching
In the next phase, the blocks are attached with the softwood or hardwood (veneer), for interior grade and exterior grade respectively.
6. Finishing
After the block board is ready, a final coating is done for extra strength and support.
We at CameroonTimberExportSarl specialize in delivering the best quality African timber & wood logs to timber merchants worldwide. We are authorised to legally harvest, process and export timber from our Cameroon mill to our clients in multiple countries, including Malaysia, UAE, Vietnam, Iraq, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.
To know more about our timber species or to place an order, you can contact us via our website or drop an email to info@cameroontimberexport.com.
