Plywood

Definition

What is Plywood?

Plywood is a panel made from thin sheets of wood veneer (plies) glued together, with the wood grain of adjacent layers rotated perpendicular to each other. The number of layers is typically an odd number such as 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15. The outer layers are called face veneers, and the inner layers are called core veneers.

The key feature of plywood is the cross-laminated structure. This gives plywood excellent bending strength and dimensional stability, making it one of the most versatile engineered wood products.

Layer count: 3 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 13 / 15 (odd numbers)
Structure: adjacent layers with perpendicular grain direction
Face veneer: outer layers
Core veneer: inner layers
Advantages: high bending strength · dimensional stability · balanced strength in all directions

Plywood Varieties

Common Plywood Types by Application

Variety	English Name	Characteristics & Applications
Concrete Formwork Plywood	Concrete Form Plywood	Film-faced surface, water-resistant, reusable 30-50 times for concrete shuttering.
Packing Plywood	Packing Plywood	Standard grade, cost-focused, lower appearance requirements. Used for crates, pallets and packaging.
Furniture Plywood	Furniture Plywood	High face grade (B/BB or above), suitable for wood veneer or paint finishing.
Marine Plywood	Marine Plywood	WBP phenolic glue, extremely water-resistant, no core voids. For boats and wet environments.
Structural Plywood	Structural Plywood	Complies with AS/NZS 2269 or EN 636 standards. High load-bearing capacity.
Aircraft Plywood	Aircraft Plywood	Birch thin veneers (0.4-0.8mm), extremely high strength-to-weight ratio.
Decorative Plywood	Decorative Plywood	Face made of precious wood veneer (oak, walnut, teak, etc.) for interior decoration.

Applications

Plywood Application Scenarios

🏗️

Construction

Concrete formwork, wall structures, roof substrates

🪑

Furniture

Cabinets, tables, chairs, bed frames

📦

Packaging

Crates, pallets, export packaging boxes

🚢

Marine

Boat structures, decks, marine facilities

🏠

Interior Decoration

Wall panels, ceilings, partitions

🛋️

Flooring Base

Engineered flooring base, underfloor heating base

✈️

Industrial

Aircraft, molds, special engineering

🚛

Vehicle Bodies

Truck bodies, refrigerated containers

Specifications

Technical Parameters

Parameter	Specification Range
Common Thickness	3mm / 5mm / 9mm / 12mm / 15mm / 18mm / 21mm / 25mm
Standard Sizes	1220×2440mm (4'×8') · 1220×2745mm (4'×9') · 1220×3050mm (4'×10')
Layer Count	3 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 11 / 13 / 15 (odd numbers)
Glue Types	MR (moisture-resistant) · WBP (weather/boil-proof phenolic) · Melamine
Face Grades	BB/BB · B/BB · B/B · S Grade (premium)
Formaldehyde Emission	E0 (≤0.05mg/m³) · E1 (≤0.10mg/m³) · E2 (≤0.30mg/m³)
Common Core Woods	Poplar · Eucalyptus · Birch · Pine · Mixed hardwood · Combi core
Structural Standards	AS/NZS 2269 · EN 636 · JAS · HPVA

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