Balsa LD (Low density select)
Grade
Pick for weight-critical, lightly loaded parts — indoor models, racing wing ribs, ultralight filler cores — accepting the lowest strength and stiffness of the density selections.
Values for the LD condition
Other Balsa tempers and conditions
Balsa is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Balsa.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
end-grain balsa sandwich core block (SB/AL series, ~0.15 g/cm³) | Use blocks cut and assembled with the fibres perpendicular to the panel face for wind-blade, hull and flooring sandwich cores; through-thickness compression and shear far exceed flat-grain sheet. | — | 12 | 1 | — | 0.06 W/m·K |
LDThis page Low density select | Pick for weight-critical, lightly loaded parts — indoor models, racing wing ribs, ultralight filler cores — accepting the lowest strength and stiffness of the density selections. | — | 14 | 1.3 | — | 0.04 W/m·K |
Green / unseasoned | Treat freshly sawn stock above fibre saturation as an intermediate state before drying only; strength and stiffness are clearly below those of the dried material. | — | 17 | 2.2 | — | 0.11 W/m·K |
High density select | Choose the ~0.22 g/cm³ select cut for parts with local bearing, bolt or insert areas and higher shear loads, trading roughly double the weight of low-density stock. | — | 34 | 1.8 | — | 0.07 W/m·K |
What is Balsa LD?
Balsa LD is Balsa in the LD grade — pick for weight-critical, lightly loaded parts — indoor models, racing wing ribs, ultralight filler cores — accepting the lowest strength and stiffness of the density selections. Balsa LD has a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi), weaker than 64% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1.3% and the elastic modulus is 2 GPa (0.29 Msi). Balsa LD has a density of 0.1 g/cm³ (0.0036 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of natural material grades.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.1 g/cm³ (0.0036 lb/in³), better than 100% of natural material grades
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 97% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 0.1 MPa·√m (0.091 ksi·√in), worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.04 W/m·K (0.0248 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 28/100, worse than 85% of natural material grades
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 85% of natural material grades
- Low stiffness — 2 GPa (0.29 Msi), worse than 77% of natural material grades
Balsa LD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Balsa LD; 13 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Balsa reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Balsa LD has a density of 0.1 g/cm³ (0.0036 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of natural material grades.
Mechanical9
Balsa LD has a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi), weaker than 64% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1.3% and the elastic modulus is 2 GPa (0.29 Msi).
Thermal5
Balsa LD is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.04 W/m·K (0.0248 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Balsa LD has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), worse than 85% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Balsa LD takes about 8 MJ of energy and emits 0.45 kg of CO₂ — less than 74% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Balsa LD's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 97% of natural material grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Balsa LD
Is Balsa easy to machine?
Cuts easily with sharp tooling at high spindle speed and light feed; blunt edges or excessive clamping pressure crush the cell structure, and laser cutting and steel-rule die cutting are both common.
Can Balsa be welded?
Not weldable; structural joints rely on epoxy, polyurethane or PVA adhesive, and end-grain core is co-cured bonded to the skins.
Can Balsa be formed, bent or molded?
Thin sheet softened with steam or hot water bends to small radii; thicker stock is shaped by block jointing or by laminating and gluing layers.
What surface finishes work on Balsa?
Seal the surface first with sanding sealer, thinned epoxy or heat-shrink film, otherwise the wood absorbs large amounts of water and resin and will not sand to a flat surface.
Balsa chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| cellulosecellulose, main load-bearing phase | 38 – 48 | 43 |
| hemicellulosehemicellulose | 20 – 30 | 25 |
| ligninlignin | 18 – 26 | 22 |
| extractives + ashextractives and ash | 1 – 6 | 3 |
| moisturekiln-dried equilibrium moisture content | 6 – 14 | 10 |
Balsa LD — frequently asked
What is Balsa LD used for?
Balsa LD is typically used for model aircraft, surfboard cores, sandwich panel cores, thermal/acoustic insulation and buoyancy floats. In short: lowest-density structural wood; highest stiffness-to-weight timber; standard end-grain sandwich core.
What is the tensile strength of Balsa LD?
Balsa LD has a typical tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — weaker than 64% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Balsa LD easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 97% of natural material grades). Cuts easily with sharp tooling at high spindle speed and light feed; blunt edges or excessive clamping pressure crush the cell structure, and laser cutting and steel-rule die cutting are both common.
Can Balsa LD be welded?
Not weldable; structural joints rely on epoxy, polyurethane or PVA adhesive, and end-grain core is co-cured bonded to the skins.
What surface finishes work on Balsa LD?
Seal the surface first with sanding sealer, thinned epoxy or heat-shrink film, otherwise the wood absorbs large amounts of water and resin and will not sand to a flat surface.
Can Balsa LD be formed, bent or molded?
Thin sheet softened with steam or hot water bends to small radii; thicker stock is shaped by block jointing or by laminating and gluing layers.
What is the maximum service temperature of Balsa LD?
Balsa LD is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-190 — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2021)
- ASTM D143 — Standard Test Methods for Small Clear Specimens of Timber — ASTM International (2022)
- BALTEK SB / AL End-Grain Balsa Core Data Sheets — 3A Composites Core Materials (2021)
- Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties — Gibson & Ashby, Cambridge University Press (1997)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.