Introduction to the Characteristics and Manufacturing Process of Artificial Decorative Panels

Release time:

2023-02-21

Artificial decorative veneer is a type of engineered wood—specifically, it refers to plywood with a decorative veneer applied to its surface. It’s made by slicing natural wood or industrial wood into specific thicknesses and adhering them onto the surface of plywood, then subjecting the assembly to heat treatment. This material is used for interior decoration or furniture manufacturing.

Artificial decorative veneer is a type of engineered wood panel—its full name is decorative veneer-faced plywood. It’s a surface material used for interior decoration or furniture manufacturing, produced by slicing natural wood or industrial wood into specific thicknesses, adhering them to the surface of plywood, and then subjecting the assembly to heat treatment. The main methods for producing artificial veneers include impregnated paper veneers, wood-varnish veneers, HPL veneers, leather veneers, and metal veneers. Wood veneers not only possess the natural color and texture of real wood but also come at a significantly lower price than solid wood. They are quick to install, easy to work with, and exhibit excellent durability. As a result, they find extensive applications in interior decoration and furniture making. Below, our editor will provide a detailed introduction to the characteristics and production processes of wood decorative veneers.

Characteristics of artificial decorative panels

Wood veneer panels are typically made from natural wood, sliced into thin sheets, and adhered to the surface of ordinary plywood using an adhesive, then pressed under heat. They have the following characteristics:

1. Excellent durability: Wood veneer panels exhibit strong compressive strength and wear resistance, and their durability far exceeds that of other engineered wood products.

2. High stability: The treated wood veneer can prevent the deformation and cracking issues that often occur with solid wood.

3. Natural texture: The wood veneer retains the natural color and grain of real wood, offering a distinctive modern appeal and natural charm, and providing a pleasant tactile experience on the surface.

4. Break the limitations of solid wood. Wooden decorative panels can be both joined and cut, overcoming the constraints on the size and patterns of solid wood furniture boards and enabling more complete and regular designs.

5. Save wood resources. Solid wood veneer panels make full use of wood resources, and by using plywood and veneer panels, production costs are reduced, making them cost-effective.

6. Green and environmentally friendly: The selection of wood veneer materials and natural wood veneers that meet the national environmental protection standard E1 level can satisfy green and environmentally friendly requirements.

Wood veneer processing technology

1. Select the veneer board. Based on the customer’s requirements, choose an appropriate thickness and quality. The entire veneer sheet should be free of overlaps, seams, severe color variations, skin wrinkles, cracks, and glue marks at the joints.

2. Substrate grinding. Fill holes and gaps in the substrate, repair surface overlaps, remove surface debris and back-side contaminants, and sort out defective products—such as those with significant core loss, large-area missing surface boards, delamination, or damage—before proceeding to grinding. Typically, 150- and 180-grit sandpaper is used for grinding. After sanding, the wood surface should be smooth, free from depressions, waviness, sand leakage, collapse, jumping sand, and contamination.

3. Dry the substrate. After evenly coloring the sanded substrate, dry it in a drying chamber. Plywood with a moisture content of ≤14% can be used.