Particleboard HD (High-density particleboard)
Supply condition
ASTM ANSI A208.1 · EN 312 · JIS A5908 · GB GB/T 4897
Use where screw holding, edge machining or laminate-flooring core stiffness matters more than weight.
Values for the HD condition
Other Particleboard tempers and conditions
Particleboard is listed in 5 conditions; see the grade overview at Particleboard.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lightweight / low-density board | Choose for lightweight flat-pack panels, door blanks and shop fittings where load is low and weight matters. | — | 6 | 0.7 | — | 0.09 W/m·K |
Fire-retardant treated particleboard | Specify for public-building interiors, shopfitting and transport panels subject to flame-spread codes. | — | 8 | 0.5 | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
P2Default P2 / M-2 | Default furniture/cabinet substrate for dry indoor use; cheapest and most widely stocked. | — | 9 | — | — | 0.12 W/m·K |
moisture-resistant board (MUF or PMDI bonded, green-dyed) | Pick for kitchen, bathroom and laundry carcases where occasional humidity or splash exposure occurs. | — | 11 | — | — | 0.13 W/m·K |
HDThis page High-density particleboard | Use where screw holding, edge machining or laminate-flooring core stiffness matters more than weight. | — | 13 | 0.5 | — | 0.16 W/m·K |
What is Particleboard HD?
Particleboard HD is Particleboard supplied in the HD condition — use where screw holding, edge machining or laminate-flooring core stiffness matters more than weight. Particleboard HD has a tensile strength of 13 MPa (1.89 ksi), weaker than 64% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.4 GPa (0.493 Msi). Particleboard HD has a density of 0.82 g/cm³ (0.0296 lb/in³), heavier than 70% of natural material grades. P2 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; HD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 0.8 MPa·√m (0.728 ksi·√in), better than 81% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 55/100, worse than 91% of natural material grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 25/100, worse than 88% of natural material grades
- Limited ductility — 0.5%, worse than 84% of natural material grades
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 80% of natural material grades
- Hard to polish — 25/100, worse than 80% of natural material grades
Particleboard HD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Particleboard HD; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Particleboard reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Particleboard HD has a density of 0.82 g/cm³ (0.0296 lb/in³), heavier than 70% of natural material grades.
Mechanical10
Particleboard HD has a tensile strength of 13 MPa (1.89 ksi), weaker than 64% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.5% and the elastic modulus is 3.4 GPa (0.493 Msi).
Thermal5
Particleboard HD is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 8 µm/m·K (4.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Particleboard HD is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 2 kV/mm (50.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 5×10⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is poor (25/100), worse than 88% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Particleboard HD takes about 12 MJ of energy and emits 0.75 kg of CO₂ — more than 69% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability2
Particleboard HD's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 91% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Particleboard HD
Is Particleboard easy to machine?
Cuts and routs easily with carbide or PCD tooling — resin and any mineral contamination dull HSS fast; score-cut or use down-shear bits to stop face chipping, and support edges as the core is weak.
Can Particleboard be welded?
Not weldable; panels are joined with PVA/hot-melt adhesives, dowels, cam-lock/confirmat fittings or coarse-thread chipboard screws (pre-drill to avoid splitting).
Can Particleboard be formed, bent or molded?
Flat panel only — no post-forming or bending; 3D shape is achieved by CNC routing of the surface or by molded (Rigidified) particle mouldings.
What surface finishes work on Particleboard?
Edges must be sealed — apply melamine or PVC edgebanding, veneer or foil; direct paint needs a filler/primer because the porous edge soaks coating and swells with waterborne systems.
Particleboard chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| urea-formaldehyde resin (UF)replaced by MUF or PMDI in moisture-resistant grades | 6 – 11 | 9 |
| paraffin wax emulsionwater repellent / sizing | 0.3 – 1 | 0.6 |
| hardener + additives (ammonium salts, sc | 0.2 – 1 | 0.5 |
| moisture contentequilibrium at 20 °C / 65 % RH | 5 – 11 | 8 |
| wood particles (softwood/hardwood chips,including recycled/post-consumer wood in many mills | ≥ 82 (balance) | — |
Particleboard HD — frequently asked
What is Particleboard HD used for?
Particleboard HD is typically used for flat-pack furniture, cabinet carcasses, countertop substrate, flooring underlayment and laminate core. In short: cheapest furniture substrate; best value under laminate; weak, moisture-sensitive core.
What is the tensile strength of Particleboard HD?
Particleboard HD has a typical tensile strength of 13 MPa (1.89 ksi) — weaker than 64% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is Particleboard HD easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 91% of natural material grades). Cuts and routs easily with carbide or PCD tooling — resin and any mineral contamination dull HSS fast; score-cut or use down-shear bits to stop face chipping, and support edges as the core is weak.
Can Particleboard HD be welded?
Not weldable; panels are joined with PVA/hot-melt adhesives, dowels, cam-lock/confirmat fittings or coarse-thread chipboard screws (pre-drill to avoid splitting).
What surface finishes work on Particleboard HD?
Edges must be sealed — apply melamine or PVC edgebanding, veneer or foil; direct paint needs a filler/primer because the porous edge soaks coating and swells with waterborne systems.
Can Particleboard HD be formed, bent or molded?
Flat panel only — no post-forming or bending; 3D shape is achieved by CNC routing of the surface or by molded (Rigidified) particle mouldings.
What is the maximum service temperature of Particleboard HD?
Particleboard HD is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- GB/T 4897 (2015)
- EN 312 Particleboards — Specifications — CEN (2010)
- ANSI A208.1 Particleboard — Composite Panel Association (2016)
- JIS A5908 Particleboard — JSA (2015)
- ASTM D1037 Evaluating Properties of Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials — ASTM (2020)
- Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, Ch.11 Wood-Based Composites — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2021)
- ISO 10456 Building materials — hygrothermal properties — ISO (2007)
- EPF / EPD environmental data for particleboard — European Panel Federation (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.