Features of Bakelite Plywood

For complex installation work, it is necessary to use a special practical material that boasts high resistance to negative external influences. Bakelite plywood has such properties. It can retain its positive properties for many decades, thanks to which it is used in many areas.

Before considering all the properties and parameters of such a material, it is advisable to find out what it is. So, Bakelite plywood is a building material, unique in its properties and characteristics, which is produced under the influence of high temperature conditions and high pressure. The basis of such plywood is birch or pine veneer, which is additionally coated with a special alcoholic composition of phenol-formaldehyde resin (another name is bakelite varnish).

Today, not all coatings can boast of such attractive qualities. In the course of operation, bakelite plywood does not lose its positive properties for 10 years. That is why in our time such building material is in great demand and is in enviable demand.

Bakelite plywood is used in many areas today. Otherwise it is called sea. This building material is very popular and this is not surprising, because bakelite plywood has many positive qualities. Let's get acquainted with them.

• It is not only practical, but also versatile in use material.... The sheets have high strength and thermal conductivity properties, they are moisture resistant, fireproof and can be used in a wide variety of areas. Not every building material has the same properties.
• During operation, bakelite plywood does not rot or deform, even if it is negatively affected by all sorts of powerful chemicals, alkalis, fuels and lubricants, alcohol and kerosene. This only confirms the wear resistance of bakelite plywood and its durability.
• The material is safe from an environmental point of view. Bakelite plywood sheets do not release into the environment corrosive and hazardous compounds that can cause serious harm to human health. Often such slabs are used for interior finishing work in residential environments.
• Bakelite plywood, unlike many other similar materials, has an attractive appearance. Due to its high aesthetics, this material is often not supplemented with other facing materials and coatings. The exceptions are extremely rare cases.
• The considered coatings are much lighter in weight, than steel and other existing materials of a similar category.
• The high humidity climate is not dangerous for bakelite plywood. In extreme heat conditions, this material also does not "suffer". Dangerous fungi and all sorts of microorganisms do not develop on it, which can be extremely difficult to get rid of later.

Bakelite plywood does not have a large number of disadvantages.

The plywood under consideration has its drawbacks.

• If we compare bakelite plywood with other similar composites with wood in the composition, and not with steel, then its specific gravity turns out to be quite large... Finishing coatings and furniture structures made of such material usually exert impressive pressure on all available supporting parts. This fact is very important to take into account when working with bakelite sheets.
• One of the most important disadvantages repelling consumers is the high cost of bakelite plywood.... For example: 1 thin sheet of material with the FBS-1 brand will be at least 2300 rubles, and the FBS brand will be from 3500 rubles and above. As disposable materials (for example, for the construction of formwork), such parts are prohibitively expensive and impractical to use.

Before choosing this material for construction and repair work, it is worth considering all its strengths and weaknesses. Then the user will know exactly what to expect from bakelite plywood.

Modern bakelized plywood has excellent technical characteristics that attract many consumers. This material has a characteristic dark brownish-red hue. Finished plywood sheets with bakelized processing must meet all the requirements specified in GOST 11539-83. The specific grade and brand of this building material is always applied directly to the sheets themselves, along with the logo of a particular manufacturer.

Standard bakelite plywood sheets are manufactured with the following dimensions:

• 5700x1250 mm;
• 5770 × 1250 mm;
• 2850 × 1250 mm;
• 2500 × 1250 mm;
• 2440 × 1220 mm;
• 1500x3000 mm.

The average thickness of the considered plywood boards can be from 4 to 30 mm. Density 1 cubic meter m of building material reaches 1200 kg. The weight of one sheet depends on the thickness indicators. For example, the popular 7mm versions weigh 25kg, while the 27mm ones can weigh about 85kg.

When choosing such material, it is worth considering it flexural strength indicators in static. It is 78.5 MPa. The maximum tensile strength of bakelite plywood is around 73.5 MPa.

As for the strength coefficient, here bakelite plywood is ahead of even the densest wood in its characteristics, approaching low-alloy steel sheets. These are very good indicators for a similar building material.

Bakelite plywood showcases good fire resistance... It can withstand temperatures of +350 degrees Celsius without any problems. This material does not support open combustion. Under the influence of the flame, it simply charred.

Such cladding is not afraid of corrosion, from which metal sheets suffer. The material does not undergo deformation, does not react with aggressive chemical compounds, does not rot, and also has dielectric properties.

Modern bakelite plywood sheets are allowed to operate at ambient temperatures ranging from -50 degrees to +50 degrees.

There are several different grades of plywood in question. Each of them has its own technical characteristics and performance properties. Let's find out more about them.

• FBS... This is a grade of external plywood layers impregnated with formaldehyde alcohol resin. Resins do not fit on layers of the internal type.

• FBS-1. Materials, the inner and outer bases of which are equally coated with phenol-formaldehyde alcohol-soluble resins.

• FBV... This marking belongs to plywood sheets, the outer layers of which are treated with phenol-formaldehyde water-soluble resins.Internal bases are also treated with resin.

• FBV-1. The outer and inner surfaces of materials of this grade are applied with the above resin, which is water-soluble.

• FBS-A. The outer and inner bases of such plywood sheets are treated with alcohol-soluble resins.

• FBS1-A. Both the outer and inner layers of such plywood (with the exception of 2 transverse layers located symmetrically from the central one) are treated with phenol-formaldehyde.

Marine plywood sheets differ not only in marking, but also in the way they are processed.

• Unpolished. Basically, such plywood sheets are used exclusively for rough work.
• Sanded. Materials with this treatment are ideal for further finishing with a suitable varnish.
• Laminated. This material already has a topcoat, so no additional finishing is needed. Such sheets can be used for the purpose of decorative finishing materials for cladding for various rooms. It is also a good option for the manufacture of furniture structures.

After all, the same laminated sheets are impractical to operate as unpolished and vice versa.

As mentioned above, modern bakelite plywood sheets are used in a wide variety of applications. That is why they are so popular and in demand. Let us consider in more detail in which areas you can not do without high-quality and wear-resistant bakelite plywood.

• In the construction industry. In most cases, the material in question is used in various kinds of construction processes. Often, it is from bakelite plywood that whole floating docks, locks and water locks are built. It is also possible to make a very strong formwork from the sheets, designed for repeated use. Bakelite plywood is used to make excellent supporting structures, awnings, partitions and other small or large architectural structures. Often marine plywood in construction work is combined with other types of this material.
• Automotive construction. Another area in which the material in question is used with enviable frequency. Very strong and durable floors are made of bakelite plywood in various vehicles (equipment can have different purposes). Few people know, but even vans for cars are made of such elements.
• Shipbuilding. Bakelite plywood has proven itself very well in shipbuilding. It is very often used for high-quality plating of decks, for different parts of boats. Reliable shipping containers are made of sheet material.
• Mechanical engineering... Bakelite plywood is widely used in modern mechanical engineering. Very strong and reliable components of various designs and mechanisms are obtained from it.
• Marine plywood is often used in the furniture industry. Very strong and durable structures that do not require special care are made from it.

The material considered is used not only for the manufacture of serious structures, such as boats, poles or supports, but also for the most ordinary interior and exterior facing of houses.

See below for an overview of laminated plywood.