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Physical Properties of Masonite

Masonite is a type of hardboard used in the construction industry. It is a cheap product that is easy to manufacture and use, especially in comparison with other types of hardboard that are available in the market today. This makes it a very popular product among builders, artists and workers. Masonite is used in many applications, including doors, electric guitars, desktops, house siding, floors and wall roofs. It is an engineered product that is made from steamed wooden chips flattened into thin, long fibers and then pressed together to form boards (referred to as the Mason method). It was first produced in 1924 by William H. Mason, founder of Masonite Corp.

  1. Features

    • Masonite is a valuable building material for today’s construction industry and is used for a variety of purposes given its suitable physical properties that make it a stable, durable and an extremely strong building material in its class. These features make it an ideal choice over the other types of hardboard.

    Density and Specific Gravity

    • Masonite is flat and stiff hardboard with no knots and voids. Density is a physical property and is a measure of relative weight of objects with a constant volume. Typically, Masonite has density ranging from 50 to 80 pounds per cubic feet. Specific gravity, which the density of a substance divided by the density of water--which is 1 gram per centimeter cubed--may range between 0.9 and 1.1. Equal density from all sides also makes it stronger than traditional boards.

    Stability and Water Resistance

    • The thin and fine fibers present in Masonite give it a dimensional stability. This hardboard is thick with sharp edges and has a high water resistance. It is also well-damped acoustically, thus making it a suitable material for speaker enclosures.

    Bending and Tensile Strength

    • Unlike other boards, Masonite requires relatively low maintenance, as it does not split, swell or crack. The thin particles present in the hardboard also give it a high bending and tensile strength. Excellent bending strength ensures resistance from cracking into pieces. These properties further provide strength to the board, making it an ideal material for building and construction work.

    Smoothness

    • The surface of the finished solid Masonite board is very smooth, making the material very popular as temporary flooring for moving companies.

    Eco-friendly Material

    • Since Masonite is prepared from all-natural products, it is an environmentally friendly product and therefore an extremely popular building material in green architecture and construction.

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