Plywood is a versatile product with relatively high strength-to-weight ratios that can combine an appealing surface look with exceptional performance under challenging situations. A variety of wood species, including hardwood, softwood, and their mixtures, as well as resin types suitable for interior, high humidity, and outdoor environments are offered. It was created to give panels good strength and dimensional stability along and across the panel.
The density of plywood is not normally controlled as part of the product specification but is a function of the species of timber used, for each project, we should choose different thickness for the most effective project. In this article, with experts from Vinawood - a leading plywood supplier, this guide gives you information about the plywood density.
What is the density of plywood?
When it comes to density, plywood and LVL ( Laminated Veneer Lumber ) are about the same as the species of wood that was used to make the product. Pine plywood has a density of between 500 and 650 kg/m3. Depending on the type of wood utilized, the density of eucalyptus hardwood plywood might be more than 900 kg/m3.
In general, species with higher densities have better engineering qualities. Timber species can also be used to offer an appropriate substrate for a high-quality finish.
The density of most building plywood will fall between 400 and 700 kg/m3. Thus, the typical weight of a 2400mm x 1200mm × 12mm panel could be in the range of 14kg to 24kg. The production from a specific manufacturer will, however, fall within a defined density range because the majority of plywood is made from a single species or a small range of species. For more details and handling data, consult the manufacturer's packaging or documentation.
Specialist plywood that has been heavily compressed can have densities of more than 1000 kg/m3, and some of them may even be made with "bullet resistant" features.
Orders for plywood can be placed for thicknesses between 1.5 and 40 mm or greater but the most commonly available nominal thicknesses generally held in stock in the UK will be: 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm, 22mm, 25mm, 32mm.
Common panel sizes are:
2440mm × 1220mm
2440mm × 610mm (normally T&G)
2500mm × 1220mm
3050mm × 1525mm
3050mm × 1220mm
Certain specialized plywood types, suitable for uses like truck sides, can be ordered in significantly bigger sizes up to 14 m × 3 m. To fulfill the unique demands of the client, the majority of importers, wholesalers, and certain manufacturers will provide panel cutting services.
Blockboard/laminboard and plywood share a similar density range; the species and form of the core material mostly determine the density of each material. For situations where weight is a crucial factor, certain panels with low density cores are available. The thicknesses of panels range from roughly 10 mm to 30 mm. Typical dimensions for sheets are 2440 x 1220 mm and 3050 x 1525 mm.
