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Brand Talk: A new breed of MDF

A completely new, high performance MDF: By Tricoya

Q: WHAT IS TRICOYA?
A: Tricoya® is a completely new, high performance MDF panel product. It demonstrates outstanding durability and dimensional stability in the most extreme and challenging environments — both exterior as well as interior, wet and high moisture applications. The product uses proprietary acetylated wood technology and a modified MDF manufacturing process to create a wood panel product with outstanding durability and stability.

Q: WHY TRICOYA?
A: Tricoya® was developed by challenging the most fundamental reason for wood swelling: water absorption onto hygroscopic wood fibers due to the presence of hydroxyl groups. The hydroxyl groups (water loving sites) can bind or release water molecules causing wood to swell or shrink.

Q: WHAT IS ACETYLATION?
A: Acetylation is a revolutionary sustainable process which has been proven on Accoya® solid wood since 2007, and increases the number of naturally occurring hydrophobic acetyl groups in the wood cells using acetic anhydride. The process exchanges the hydroxyl groups (chemical formula: -OH) with acetyl groups (chemical formula: -COCH3) preventing water absorption at these sites, and thus enhancing the dimensional stability and durability of the wood.

Q: HOW DOES TRICOYA PERFORM VS. TRADITIONAL MDF?
A: Many of the benefits observed in Accoya® solid acetylated wood, including enhanced dimensional stability, durability and fungal resistance, hold true for Tricoya®.The functionality and versatility of wood-based composite panels give them universal appeal. Up until this point, the suitability of MDF panels for exterior and indoor constant wet use environments has been limited and over laid with practical limitations.Tricoya® combines the versatility, ease of machining, ease of coating and large panel format with the performance heritage and credentials of Accoya®. Accoya® and Tricoya® have been in the market since 2007 and 2011 respectively, predominantly in Europe and are living up to the promise for manufacturers and specifiers alike.

Q: WHERE CAN TRICOYA BE APPLIED?

  • Window and door components
  • Door skins
  • Trim
  • Façade cladding/siding
  • Fascia/soffit panels and other secondary exterior applications
  • Wet interiors, including wall linings in swimming pools, bathrooms, changing rooms etc
  • Outdoor kitchens
  • Signage
  • Specialty furniture including lockers, cubicles, chairs & tables
  • Play frames, tree houses & exterior composite furniture
  • Sound barriers
Q: HOW DOES TRICOYA FINISH?
A: Tricoya® can be cut, coated, sanded, glued, machined and fastened the same as any other high performing wood fiberboard allowing users all the freedom associated with MDF. The Tricoya® difference is that this can now be done for the outside and with confidence.

Machining and Finishing

Tricoya® may be cut, machined and used in exactly the same way as other wood fiberboards with no change in machinability. Tricoya® is delivered with a 120-grit sanded finish. It may be sanded with finer papers to achieve smoother surfaces. Water based paint systems may be used to decorate Tricoya®. Tricoya® may be laminated with melamine papers, high pressure laminates, wood veneers, foils and other materials. Exterior adhesives such as epoxy, polyurethane, phenol-resorcinol resin and EPI may be used as long as they meet exterior use requirements via ASTM D5751 Wet Use, or equivalent test method.

Durability

Tricoya® has been evaluated in the lab via WDMA TM1 and AWPA E10 soil block testing and in the field via AWPA E7 and E18 test methods. Tricoya has met all requirements for resistance to decay fungi for above ground and ground contact use.

Fire Rating

Tricoya® is classified as meeting a Class C flame spread rating by the ASTM E84 method and Class A rated with an approved Class A rated exterior quality intumescent coating.

Insect Resistant

Tricoya® has termite resistance meeting UC4A ground contact requirements and performs better than heartwood from western red cedar and Burmese teak.

Q: IS THERE A WARRANTY?
A: Yes, Tricoya® has a guarantee of 50-years above ground and 25-years below ground.

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