Plywood Warping and How to Prevent it

Plywood Warping is deformity in plywood which occurs when the moisture content of different parts of a piece of plywood change unevenly.

I wish to bring to light the facts which emerged during my recent numerous visits made to various Plywood Industry Units across India. I observed that once the Ply got manufactured, soon it would develop Warps / bents. In most instances, it could be observed from a naked eye that complete stacks & stacks of freshly manufactured Plywood were bent.

Main cause of Plywood Warp:

While it’sunderstood that Plywood warps because the layers of wood soak up different amounts of moisture from the atmosphere, thereby causing the side that soaked up more moisture to be slightly larger than the other (causing a warp), the real reason observed is as below:

During the PF Plywood Manufacturing, the temperatures in the Hot Press range from 140°C – 150°C because the LIQUID PF Resin currently being used by Plywood Manufacturing Units requires such temperature conditions….

Solution: How to Prevent Plywood Warping:

So, based on my decades-long experience I now share the Solution to the problem of Plywood Warping which will not only make the PF Plywood Sheets look more symmetrical/beautiful but would also make them stronger by helping reduce various other minor defects as well. Its use of –

P.F – 20 –M (Phenol Formaldehyde POWDER Resin from ARCL).

…the factory- manufactured Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Powder from the trusted house of ARCL (formerly Allied Resins & Chemicals Ltd, Kolkata).

* Note:(a) The ratio for making the P.F Liquid Resin varies across Plywood Manufacturing Units and some Units are even making Double-Stage Liquid resins. By mixing a suitable-quantityof P.F-20-M Powdered Resin with already-being used Liquid Resin and some Extender, the correct Viscosity can be achieved. The quantity of PF-20-M powder-resin which should be mixed thus varies accordingly.

Plywood manufactured using mixture of Liquid P.F Resin + PF-M-20 Powder is pressed at temperatures ranging from 130°C – 135°C andthus has no complaints of warping / bending of Plywood.

Multiple Other Advantages of using PF-20-M are:

1. PF-20-M being molecular, improves strength of non-porous, hard & dense timber like Eucalyptus by imparting better bonding.
2. Saves fuel as hot-press temperature is reduced by 10°C-15°C.
3. Increases weight of film-face shuttering plywood by 250-300gms/sheet.
4. Reduces the chance of steam-pockets to almost zero.
5. Increases both, wet and dry glue sheering strength.
6. Increases wood fixture percentage.
7. Nailing quality improves.
8. Reduces free formaldehyde content present in liquid PF resin.
9. Reduces glue penetration on face of BWP Plywood
10. Maintains glue viscosity.

About ARCL:
ARCL Organics Ltd. (formerly Allied Resins and Chemicals Ltd.) was established in 1959 and is an integrated speciality chemicalscompany manufacturing state-of-the art chemical products – Resins, Adhesives,Hardeners,Additives Abrasives and such others. ARCL is also a Govt. of India recognised Star Export House with exports to over 50+ countries around the world.

Having a rich experience of 60+ years in collaborating with cutting-edge technologies from around the world, ARCL serves to various industries – Plywood, Panel, Animal Feed, Rubber, Pharma, Engineering, Textile, Paper, Foundry, Paints and several others, across India and around the globe.

With deep-commitment towards our customers and an equally keen-eye on quality, ARCL’s products adhere to various Intl. Standards like, DIN, BIS, ASTM, and JAS etc.

We strive to give our Customers – the best value, the best product, the best quality and the best service!

We look forward to your business growth and are committed towards our goal !

Reach out for your free Trial……
Call-up Mr. Anil Kumar Singh, Technical Manager (ARCL) at +91-9355333084 or email at yamunanagar@ arcl.in tolearn more about PF-20-M powder resin, its suitable-quantity which is to be mixed and how it can benefit you!

Subhash Jolly
Eminent Wood Technologist
+91 – 7895887383
subhashjolly@gmail.com