Plywood is one of the most basic materials used extensively in furniture manufacturing, interiors of homes, offices and commercial spaces, construction of buildings, etc.It is undoubtedly one of the most versatile engineered materials. Evenminorerrorsduring the process of plywood manufacturingcan cause problems leading towards weak plywood. Internal flaws like bubbles and cracks between the plies remain undetected during visual inspections and pose a risk of furniture damage during the use later. Therefore carefully devised quality control and monitoring processes need to be in place during the plywood manufacturing process.
Potential process anomalies which can lead to defects like bubbles and cracks in plywood are:
Inadequate drying duration: It is critical to examine moisture levels in the veneers before initiating the drying process. This helps to define required drying process parameters such as duration and temperature of drying. During the drying process, if the veneers are not subjected to adequate drying then it might result in brittle veneers (due to excess drying) or moisture laden veneers (due to insufficient drying). Excess drying leads to brittle veneers which when used for plywood manufacturing might lead in generation of cracks. On the other hand insufficient drying will leave veneers damp causing expansion due to bubble formation between the plies owing to the release of entrapped moisture later during service.
Drying temperatures: In the above process if the drying temperatures are not properly maintained then also it could cause development of cracks and bubbles in plywood. Irregular or fluctuating temperature, more than desired temperature or less than required temperatures can also plywood quality. Therefore it is imperative that the equipments are in good working condition and temperature scales calibrated to ensure good process parameters.
Compressing Speed and pressure: During the compression process desired speed (of the pressing plates/daylights) and required pressure (depending on the number of plies) needs to be established beforehand. Also it is imperative that the equipments are in good working condition and pressure gauges calibrated to ensure good process parameters.Less than desired pressure or compressing speeds might leave gaps in between the veneer layers causing bubbles whereas more than the desired pressure or compressing speed might result in development in cracks in veneer layers. Thus an adequately monitored process with built-in mechanism for sounding alert / rectification of the anomaly along-with good quality raw material will ensure production of good quality plywood.
Gluing: Before initiating the gluing process, it is a good practice to examine the resin solution for its consistency and homogenous dispersion. Sieves should be cleaned and any lumps in the resin solution are to be filtered and removed before it enters the nozzles. Also it is imperative to ensure that all the equipment is in good working condition and that nozzles are cleaned and free of any blockages.Ensure even application of glue on the entire veneer surface such that there should be no more and no less than the required quantity at any area.
We, at Chitwan Ply, understand the importance of good quality plywood.Our qualified technicians and process engineers understand and monitor several factors which might otherwise result in poor quality product. We care for your requirements and about the issues which might arise later on during use. We totally understand that every piece of plywood being used in the construction of your dream home needs to be of top quality. Therefore our plywood is subjected to a series of rigorous testing procedures during various stages of manufacturing. This ensures that you get only the best quality plywood. At Chitwan Ply we strive to provide our customers with the top quality plywood at the best possible cost.
