Kuitulevyt

Kuitulevyt, or fiberboards, are a category of engineered wood panels produced by bonding wood fibers with resin under heat and pressure. They are manufactured in a range of densities and thicknesses and are used in construction, furniture making, and interior fittings. The boards are typically made from wood fibers obtained by refining logs or wood waste, which are dried, formed into a mat, and then pressed with a binder to cure the resin and fuse the fibers.

There are several common grades of kuitulevyt. Softboard is a low-density type used for insulation, acoustic panels, and light backing. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) provides a smooth surface suitable for painting, veneering, or laminating and is widely used in furniture and cabinetry. High-density fiberboard (HDF) has a higher density and a very smooth surface, making it suitable for heavy-duty furnishings, flooring underlayment, and high-quality laminates. Some boards are produced with moisture resistance or fire-retardant treatments for specific applications.

Manufacturing involves converting wood into fibers, drying and conditioning the fibers, and forming a mat. A resin binder, commonly urea-formaldehyde or melamine-urea-formaldehyde, is added before pressing the mat in a hot press to cure the resin and bond the fibers. The resulting panels are cut to size and finished as required. Emissions from binders vary by resin type, and modern products often emphasize low-emission formulations.

Kuitulevyt are valued for their uniform thickness, good machinability, and screw-holding capability. They can be veneered, laminated, painted, or used as structural or decorative components. Limitations include sensitivity to moisture (except in moisture-resistant grades) and potential formaldehyde emissions, which has driven advances toward low-emission materials.