industrial product

hardboard

Introduction Hardboard is a composite panel manufactured primarily from inter-felted ligno-cellulosic fibers consolidated under heat and pressure. Other materials may be added during the manufacturing process to improve certain properties, such as resistance to abrasion and moisture, and increased strength and durability.
Hardboard in used in a variety of applications including furniture components, wall paneling, exterior siding and trim, underlayment, interior trim, perforated and utility boards. Panels are available in many forms other than the familiar “brown board”, including sophisticated woodgrains and embossed surfaces.

Hardboard

-Cut to size          -Perforating               -Die cutting

-Painting              -Woodgraining         -Decorative Patterns

-Special Sizes      -Oversized Panels    -Drilling & Punching

-Calibrating         -Quantities                 -Special Thicknesses

-S1s                         -S2s                              -Densities

-Special Physical Properties

CLASS
Nominal
Thickness
WATER RESISTANCE
(MAX. AVG. PER PANEL)
MODULUS OF RUPTURE
(Min. Avg.Per Panel)
TENSILE STRENGTH
(Min. Avg. Per Panel)
Water Absorption
Based On Weight
Thickness
Swelling
Parallel
to Surface
Perpendicular
to Surface
1 TEMPERED
INCH PERCENT PERCENT PSI PSI PSI
1/2 30 25
6000
3000
130
1/10
1/8
3/16
25 20
1/4
5/16
3/8
20
15
10
15
10
9
2 STANDARD
1/2 40 30
4500
2200
90
1/10
1/8
3/16
35 25
1/4
5/16
3/8
25
20
15
20
15
10
3 SERVICE
TEMPERED
1/8
3/16
1/4
3/8
35
30
30
20
30
30
25
15
4500 2000 75
4 SERVICE
1/8
3/16
1/4
3/8
7/16
1/2
5/8
11/16
45
40
40
35
35
30
25
25
35
35
30
25
25
20
20
20
3000
1500
50
3/4
13/16
7/8
1
1-1/8
20 15
5
INDUSTRIALITE
1/4
3/8
7/16
1/2
5/8
11/16
50
40
40
35
30
30
30
25
25
25
20
20
2000
1000
25
3/4
13/16
7/8
11-1/8
25 20

Hardboard is produced by converting wood into fibers (defibering) and then reconstructing the fibers into panels. The American Hardboard Association defines hardboard as: “panel manufactured from inter-felted lignocellulosic fibers which are consolidated under heat and pressure in a hot-press to density of 31 pounds per cubic foot or greater.”

Specifying and purchasing hardboard is a detailed and precise process that needs expert guidance to avoid the well-known bureaucratic morass of the import world, and to avoid costly mistakes in overbuying and underbuying of product. With over 50 years of experience, you can trust Holland Southwest to provide high quality hardboard at the best possible price.

Here are the primary characteristics of hardboard panels:

  • Surface is classified as either smooth one sided (S1S) or smooth two sides (S2S)
  • Generally 4’ wide and 8’ long, though presses from 5’ x 16’ and larger exist. New technology 4’-8’ wide continuous presses are now common
  • Thickness can vary from as thin as 1/10” to as thick as 7/16”.
  • Industry standards require that the lengths of the face diagonals vary by not more than 1/64” for each foot of panel length; opposite sides of the panel may not vary in length by more than 1/8”; and the edges of the panel must be straight, within 1/64” for each foot of length or width.
  • Moisture content may vary between 2% and 9%, but the variance may not be more than 3% within any one shipment.
  • Hardboard conforming to industry standard is easily identifiable, as the panel is marked with a colored vertical stripe (or stripes).