Hardboard (MASONITE)

Hardboard, also called high-density fibreboard, is a type of fibreboard, which is an engineered wood product. It is similar to particleboard and medium-density fibreboard, but is denser and much stronger and harder because it is made out of exploded wood fibres that have been highly compressed. Consequently, the density of hardboard is 31lbs. or more per cubic foot and is usually about 50-65 lbs. per cubic foot. It differs from particle board in that the bonding of the wood fibres requires no additional materials, although resin is often added. Unlike particleboard, it will not split or crack. It is used in construction and furniture manufacturing. Hardboard is produced in either a wet or dry process, which produce a panel called S1S or S2S respectively. The wet process leaves only one smooth side, but dry processed hardboard is smooth on both sides.

Unlike solid wood, hardboard is very homogeneous with no grain. A wood veneer can be glued onto it to give the appearance of solid wood; alternatively a much cheaper and equally robust printing process can give the same effect as veneer in the finished product.

Other overlays include print, Formica and vinyl. It has many uses, such as a substrate. Unlike plywood and solid wood, it has no significant structural strength. It is used in construction, furniture, appliances, car internal panels and cabinetry.

Tempered hardboard is hardboard that has been coated with a thin film of linseed oil and then baked; this gives it more water resistance, impact resistance, hardness, rigidity and tensile strength. An earlier tempering process involved immersing the board in linseed oil until it was 5 to 6 percent saturated, and heating to 170