What is phenolic plywood for construction and what are its benefits?
Phenolic plywood is an increasingly popular material in the construction industry due to its exceptional mechanical properties and weather resistance. It is frequently used for bridge, wall and roof construction in a wide variety of formwork applications.
Phenolic plywood is made of multiple layers of paper impregnated with phenolic resin, an extremely resistant synthetic material. These layers are bonded together with adhesive and subjected to pressure and heat to create a rigid, durable sheet. The result is a material that is stronger and more durable than wood or plywood.
Benefits of phenolic plywood
One of the main benefits of phenolic plywood as formwork is its high mechanical strength, which allows it to withstand the loads and vibrations that occur during the concrete pouring process. In addition, its surface is smooth and uniform, which helps to achieve a high quality finish on the surface of the concrete.
Another important advantage is its durability and resistance to moisture. Phenolic plywood is a waterproof material that does not swell or deform when exposed to water, making it ideal for use in concrete structure construction.
Phenolic plywood is also easy to handle and cut, which makes it ideal for adapting to different shapes and sizes of concrete structures. In addition, it is a lightweight material that facilitates its transport and handling on site.
In summary, phenolic plywood is a high-strength, durable and easy-to-handle material that is perfectly suited to the requirements of concrete structure construction. Its use as formwork enables the creation of high quality structures with long-term durability.
Technical characteristics
Phenolic plywoods used in construction have several features that make them very useful in this area. Some of the most important features are:
- Moisture resistance: phenolic paper used as adhesive in plywood provides high moisture resistance, making it ideal for use in exterior construction and in humid environments.
- Wear resistance: phenolic plywoods are highly resistant to wear and abrasion, making them ideal for use in high traffic applications such as floors and walls.
- Dimensional stability: phenolic plywood offers excellent dimensional stability, which means that it does not warp or shrink with changes in temperature and humidity.
- Fire resistance: phenolic plywoods are also highly fire resistant, making them ideal for use in applications where this feature is required, such as building construction.
- Versatility: phenolic plywood can be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, making it very versatile and useful in a wide variety of construction applications. They can also be treated with finishes to give them an attractive aesthetic appearance.
Wood used
There is a wide variety of woods used to make phenolic construction plywood, depending on the specific needs of the application. Some of the most commonly used woods include:
- Birch: It is one of the most popular woods for phenolic plywood due to its strength and durability. Birch is also easy to work with and has a uniform grain, making it ideal for applications that require a smooth finish.
- Pine: Pine is another wood commonly used in the manufacture of phenolic plywood for construction. It is less expensive than birch and is a good choice for applications where high strength is required, but not necessarily a smooth finish.
- Fir: Fir is a soft, lightweight wood commonly used in the manufacture of phenolic plywood for structural applications. It is strong and durable, but it does not have the same wear resistance as birch or pine.
- Okoume: it is a wood of African origin that is used for the manufacture of phenolic plywood in applications that require high resistance to water. It is strong and durable, but is also easy to work with and has a smooth finish.
- Teak: it is a wood of Asian origin that is used to manufacture phenolic plywood in applications that require high resistance to humidity and weathering. Teak is a strong, hard wood that also has an attractive appearance.
- Poplar: It is a soft and light wood that is often used for the manufacture of plywood in applications where good dimensional stability is required. It is easy to work with and has a uniform grain that gives it an attractive appearance.
- Acacia: It is a hard and resistant wood that is commonly used in the manufacture of plywood for exterior applications. It has high moisture resistance and is resistant to deformation and wear.
- Eucalyptus: it is a hard and resistant wood that is used for the manufacture of plywood in applications that require high mechanical resistance. It is resistant to moisture and has a high resistance to wear and abrasion.
In general, these woods have different properties and are used in different applications in the manufacture of plywood. The choice of wood will depend on the specific needs of the application, including mechanical resistance, dimensional stability, resistance to humidity and durability, among other factors. It is important to carefully evaluate the characteristics of the wood and its compatibility with the application before selecting it for plywood manufacturing.
How to measure the strength of plywood
The strength of phenolic plywood can be measured using a variety of standardized tests, including the following:
- Bending test: used to measure the resistance of phenolic plywood to bending. A load is applied to the center of the plywood sample and the maximum load it can withstand before breaking is measured.
- Compression shear test: used to measure the compressive strength of phenolic plywood. A load is applied to a given area of the sample and the maximum load it can withstand before breaking is measured.
- Bending shear test: used to measure the resistance of phenolic plywood to shear force. A load is applied to the surface of the sample and the maximum load it can withstand before breaking is measured.
- Tensile test: used to measure the tensile strength of phenolic plywood. A load is applied to both ends of the sample and the maximum load it can withstand before breaking is measured.
These tests are performed in a specialized laboratory and follow international technical standards, such as ASTM, ISO and EN. The results of these tests are used to evaluate the quality and strength of the phenolic plywood and to ensure that it meets the required standards for the specific application.
Phenolic paper quality
Phenolic paper is measured in terms of weight per unit area, usually in grams per square meter (g/m²) or pounds per square inch (lbs/in²). This measurement is used to evaluate the density and thickness of phenolic paper.
Regarding abrasion resistance, it can be measured using different methods, one of which is the Taber test. This is a standard method used to measure the abrasion resistance of different materials, including phenolic paper. In this test, a sample of the material is subjected to a specific number of abrasion cycles by rotating an abrasive disc over it. The weight loss or change in appearance of the sample is then measured to determine its resistance to abrasion.
Other tests used to evaluate the quality of phenolic paper include tensile strength, dielectric strength, impact resistance and dimensional stability, among others. These tests are performed in specialized laboratories following international technical standards, and the results are used to evaluate quality and ensure that the phenolic paper meets the specifications required for its specific application.
Conclusions
In conclusion, phenolic plywood is a highly resistant and durable construction material that offers a wide variety of benefits to the construction industry. From its resistance to the weather and chemicals to its ability to withstand heavy loads and easy maintenance, this material is an excellent choice for a wide variety of applications. Moreover, its environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness make it an increasingly popular choice among builders and architects around the world.
