Film-faced plywood not only meets criteria for load-bearing capacity, quality, and aesthetics but also can be re-used multiple times, making it a perfect replacement for traditional reinforced concrete structures. Film-coated formwork plywood can be reused up to 20 times; however, improper use and maintenance can affect its quality and reusability.
Film-coated plywood in construction
Film-coated plywood, or film-faced formwork plywood, is often used in construction projects. Therefore, this type of plywood requires high durability, strength, and water resistance, demanding a meticulous and strict production process.
Structure of film-coated plywood
Film-coated plywood is composed of three main components:
- Wood core: Thinly sliced wood sheets are stacked together, with a thickness of about 1.7mm, creating a wood core with a thickness of 12mm to 18mm.
- Surface: Covered with a film coated with Phenolic glue, providing excellent water resistance and scratch resistance.
- Glue: The wood layers are bonded together with Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) or Phenol Formaldehyde (PF) glue, which has high adhesion and good water resistance.
In addition to the structure, technical specifications are crucial in determining the quality of the plywood. Film-coated plywood at Phuc Khanh meets optimal technical standards, ensuring quality:
- Core materials: Glue, rubber wood, eucalyptus wood, etc.
- Standard size: 1220mm x 2440mm
- Thickness: 12mm – 18mm
- Moisture content: 8% – 12%
- Density: 550 – 700kg/m³
Advantages of film-coated construction plywood
The use of formwork to replace conventional reinforced concrete structures is becoming very popular and receiving a lot of attention. Here are the advantages of this industrial plywood, answering why it should be used in construction.
- Cost savings: Film-coated formwork plywood is an industrial wood product, so its price is lower than other formwork types like steel or iron formwork. However, it still ensures quality and aesthetics for the project.
- Reduced material wastage: Formwork plywood creates a closed and solid mold, minimizing material wastage in production.
- Ensured aesthetics: The film layer helps the concrete surface to be smooth, glossy, and scratch-resistant.
- Easy to transport and construct: Formwork sheets are uniformly sized and relatively lightweight, making them easy to transport, construct, and dismantle.
- Reusable: Film-coated plywood has a stable structure, low deformation, and good water and heat resistance, allowing it to be reused multiple times while maintaining quality.
How to maintain film-coated formwork plywood Proper maintenance contributes to extending the lifespan and reusability of this industrial plywood. Phuc Khanh Plywood offers some maintenance tips:
Before use:
- Store plywood in a dry, ventilated place and minimize exposure to water and sunlight.
- Lay plywood horizontally, parallel to the ground to prevent warping.
- Carefully check the strapping when moving plywood out of storage to avoid dropping and damaging it, which can also pose a safety risk.
- Remove the strapping from long-stored plywood to avoid impressions on the edges.
- Use lifting equipment to avoid scratching the plywood surface; do not drag it on the floor.
During use:
- Handle with care to avoid dropping and breaking the plywood.
- Paint a water-resistant layer on the edges to prevent water and termites from reducing plywood quality.
- Apply tape on the surface before drilling to prevent cracking.
- Coat the plywood surface with oil or a release agent before pouring concrete to make cleaning easier, minimize scratches, and maintain reusability.
- Do not place heavy objects on the formwork.
After use:
- Clean the plywood immediately after use to prevent concrete from sticking to the surface and damaging it.
- Avoid using metal tools to scrub the surface. Instead, use plastic and nylon brushes.
- After use, apply a release agent to both sides of the plywood for future use.
- Dry the plywood before storing it.
- Store plywood in a dry, ventilated place and ensure it is well-covered.