Masonite

Masonite is a wood fiber board, which is made according to the model developed by William H. Mason or explosive process.

Manufacturing process

The Mason - process is an explosive disruption process. The process is performed in a special autoclave with spontaneous relief, the so-called Gun. The raw material used chopped, peeled wood used. The autoclave is maintained at an initial pressure of about 30 bar for about 15 seconds, after which the pressure of high-pressure steam is increased to approximately 70 bar and kept for some time at this pressure. Then pressure is released spontaneously. Due to the spontaneous pressure relief explode the wood chips. The material will be blown via a large pipe for a Ausblaseschacht in a cyclone and is at this point relatively fuzzy, with a water content of about 50%.

The product is then washed and dried. The wash water is worked up as by-products fall of wood sugars and hemicelluloses. Prior to pressing a part of the short fiber is screened and worked up. Too large a proportion of the short fibers would lower the strength of the panel.

Further processing steps are pressing and conditioning in a climate chamber. The pressing takes place in several steps. First, the Masonite is pressed hot, then cold in a high pressure press. The pressing operation may be up to 15 minutes depending on the thickness of the plate.

In contrast to the production of other hardboard no adhesive is used for the preparation of masonite. Due to the high proportion of long fibers give the material a high bending strength, high tensile strength, density and stability.

History and Use

Mason spent 17 years with Thomas Edison, before he developed in Laurel, Mississippi, the Masonite 1924. Mass production began in 1929. During the 1930 and 1940 years, Masonite was used for many applications, such as doors, roof tiles, walls, tabletops, or vehicle registration.

Artists have Masonite used as the basis for drawings and paintings. The smooth surface is also favorable for the production of table tennis.

Masonite has also been used for producing the wobble boards, one developed by Harris Rolf musical instrument which has been used in its No. 1 Hit Tie Me Kangaroo down, sports. The company Danelectro used it to build guitar bodies.

The popularity decreased with time. The material is now used mainly for the production of guitars in the company Danelectro and house doors. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Masonite doors are considered to be energy efficient, the acquisition will be funded in the years 2009 and 2010 with a 30% tax credit equal to the purchase price.

Masonite International Corporation

Masonite is manufactured by Masonite International Corporation, a manufacturer of entrance and interior doors and used. The company has over 11,000 employees worldwide in 80 offices and is one of the largest manufacturers of doors. The Masonite International Corporation was established in December 2004 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR ) bought for 3.1 billion Canadian dollars. On 16 March 2009, the company filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 The procedure has now been completed.

In 1996, the company lost a lawsuit against homeowners who had used as Masonite Siding. It has set up a fund from which the homeowners were compensated.