Honeycomb panels and hollow core panels may look similar, but they actually have significant differences. What are they?
Honeycomb panels are made by bonding two thinner face sheets firmly to both sides of a thicker honeycomb-shaped core material. The honeycomb core material is usually a single piece of hexagonal hollow (honeycomb-shaped) kraft paper impregnated with synthetic resin (phenolic, polyester, etc.).
The core material thickness is typically between 15mm and 45mm; the cavity size is around 10mm. Commonly used face sheets are resin-impregnated kraft paper, fiberboard, gypsum board, etc. The face sheets are firmly bonded to the core material using suitable adhesives.
Honeycomb panels are characterized by a high strength-to-weight ratio, even stress distribution, strong compressive strength (breaking force 720kg/m²), low thermal conductivity, good seismic resistance and non-deformation, lightweight, and sound insulation, making them one of the best materials for decorative woodwork.
Hollow core sheets are one-piece molded plastic sheets with a hollow structure. Their hollow and lightweight nature is a key advantage, making them widely adopted for their reusability and cost-effectiveness. Hollow core sheets can be processed into various colors, and thicknesses from 2-12mm can be customized. Common thicknesses for honeycomb panels are 4mm, 7mm, and 11mm for perimeter boxes.
Hollow core sheets are generally made from environmentally friendly, pollution-free, and recyclable thermoplastic polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (HDPE) resins, along with various auxiliary materials. Another type, polycarbonate (PC) hollow core sheets, also known as sun panels, glass calon sheets, or PC hollow sheets, are made from high-performance engineering plastic PC resin. They feature high transparency, light weight, impact resistance, sound insulation, heat insulation, flame retardancy, and aging resistance. This high-tech, high-performance, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly plastic sheet is currently the most widely used plastic building material internationally.
