End Grain Balsa Wood & Balsa Core Technical Information

End Grain Balsa Wood High Quality Balsa Materials

Technical Data

ProBalsa (Natural) is a select quality, kiln-dried end grain balsa wood suitable for structural core material in composite sandwich construction. ProBalsa Plus (Pre-primed) is surface primed (Natural) which will improve installation time and reduce resin absorption.

Availability:

Rigid Panels: 4'0" x 2'0" x Various Thicknesses
Flexible Panels: 4'0" x 2'0" x Various Thicknesses
(2" x 1" blocks on fibreglass scrim)

Grade	----	Low Density Light Weight	Standard Density ProBalsa Natural	High Density Heavy Weight
Normal Density ASTM C 271	lb/ft³ kg/m³	6.5 100	9.5 155	15 240
Compressive Strength ASTM C 365	psi Mpa	1000 6.9	1890 13	3800 26.2
Compressive Modulus ASTM C 365	psi Mpa	322000 2220	580000 3980	1126000 7760
Tensile Strength ASTM C 297	psi Mpa	1150 7.9	1910 13.1	3320 22.9
Shear Strength ASTM C 273	psi Mpa	270 1.8	430 2.9	730 5
Shear Modulus ASTM C 273	psi Mpa	15700 109	23600 163	37500 259
Thermal Conductivity	BTU.in/h.ft³.°F W/(m.°C)	0.35 0.050	0.44 0.063	0.60 0.087

Nominal Moisture Content: 12%

Coefficient of Linear Expansion:

Longitudinal	2.0 x 10-6 in/in/°F	1.1 x 10-6 cm/cm/°C
Radial	8.0 x 10-6 in/in/°F	4.6 x 10-6 cm/cm/°C
Tangential	12.0 x 10-6 in/in°F	6.8 x 10-6 cm/cm/°C

Shrinkage and swelling of wood due to moisture changes will overshadow thermal expansion.

ProBalsa (Natural) and ProBalsa Plus (Pre-primed) have proven to be successful in a variety of moulding processes. End grain balsa wood is widely used and found in pleasure craft, trucks, trains, interiors, and other structural applications. Contact Balsa Sales Ltd for further information and technical assistance. ProBalsa (Natural) and ProBalsa Plus (Pre-primed) is certified and quality approved by the American Bureau of Shipping and Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

Data and recommendations for Natural and Pre-primed balsa wood are derived from tests and experience but are provided without liability to the company.

A Renewable Resource

ProBalsa end grain balsa wood panels are a naturally recurring Ecuadorian resource. The balsa plant grows from a seedling to a mature tree in 4-6 years and reaches heights up to 90 feet before dying. Mature trees are milled, kiln dried, sorted by density and quality and then assembled into blocks for conversion into ProBalsa. ProBalsa core sandwich is environmentally friendly and waste can be disposed of as land fill or incinerated.

ProBalsa sandwich core materials are approved by all major classification societies including Lloyds Register of Shipping and the American Bureau of Shipping.

Kiln Dried Balsa Core Sandwich Properties

ProBalsa core sandwich material is available in different forms in order to enable designers to achieve the most appropriate strength-to-weight performance. Balsa wood also has the following peoperties:

	Excellent shear strength and modulus.
	Very high compressive strength and modulus.
	Good fatigue properties.
	High thermal and sound insulation properties.
	low fire hazard, smoke and toxic gas generation.
	Excellent resin and process compatibility.

ProBalsa Grades / Forms

ProBalsa - Light Weight
A low density (average 90 kg/m3) balsa core for weight critical applications.

ProBalsa - Standard
ProBalsa Standard (average density 155 kg/m3) provides an excellent combination of high strength / low weight. It is available in
plain sheets or grid scored (GS) for compound curves.

ProBalsa - Heavyweight
A high density, high strength version of ProBalsa standard (average density 220 kg/m3) for highly loaded applications.

ProBalsa Plus
A premium version of ProBalsa where the surface is sanded and treated with a special surface primer to reduce absorption during
lamination.

ProBalsa Kits
ProBalsa Kits are pre-cut to your exact specifications ready for sequential installation. Kits substantially reduce build time, save labour and cut waste.