Radiata Pine KD
Finish state · default condition
KD = kiln dried to 10–14 % moisture content
Standard grade for furniture, mouldings, finger-jointed and laminated panels — stable, glue- and paint-ready, kiln heat also kills blue-stain fungi and insects (ISPM-15).
Values for the KD condition
Other Radiata Pine tempers and conditions
Radiata Pine is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at Radiata Pine.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Freshly sawn, MC above fibre saturation | Pick for wet-processing routes (pallets, formwork, preservative pressure treatment before drying) where dimensional movement is acceptable. | — | 60 | — | — | 0.2 W/m·K |
KDDefaultThis page Kiln dried to 10–14 % moisture content | Standard grade for furniture, mouldings, finger-jointed and laminated panels — stable, glue- and paint-ready, kiln heat also kills blue-stain fungi and insects (ISPM-15). | — | 90 | 1 | — | 0.12 W/m·K |
Air-dried | Low-cost seasoning for packaging, crates and sheltered outdoor framing where full kiln stability is not required. | — | — | — | — | 0.14 W/m·K |
What is Radiata Pine KD?
Radiata Pine KD is Radiata Pine supplied in the KD condition — standard grade for furniture, mouldings, finger-jointed and laminated panels — stable, glue- and paint-ready, kiln heat also kills blue-stain fungi and insects (ISPM-15). Radiata Pine KD has a tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), stronger than 73% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 10.2 GPa (1.48 Msi). Radiata Pine KD has a density of 0.48 g/cm³ (0.0173 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of natural material grades.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 86% of natural material grades
- Low embodied carbon — 0.3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 79% of natural material grades
- Lightweight — 0.48 g/cm³ (0.0173 lb/in³), better than 76% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 22/100, worse than 93% of natural material grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.4 MPa·√m (0.364 ksi·√in), worse than 86% of natural material grades
Radiata Pine KD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Radiata Pine KD; 14 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Radiata Pine reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Radiata Pine KD has a density of 0.48 g/cm³ (0.0173 lb/in³), lighter than 76% of natural material grades.
Mechanical9
Radiata Pine KD has a tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), stronger than 73% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 10.2 GPa (1.48 Msi).
Thermal5
Radiata Pine KD is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.12 W/m·K (0.0693 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 70% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Radiata Pine KD is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 3 kV/mm (76.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is poor (22/100), worse than 93% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Radiata Pine KD takes about 9 MJ of energy and emits 0.3 kg of CO₂ — less than 65% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Radiata Pine KD's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 86% of natural material grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Radiata Pine KD
Is Radiata Pine easy to machine?
Very easy to saw, plane, mould and CNC-route; use sharp carbide and adequate chip clearance — resin loading on tooling and fuzzy earlywood are the usual issues.
Can Radiata Pine be welded?
Not weldable; joined by PVA/EPI/PUR/urea adhesives, finger joints, nails, screws and connector plates — pre-drill near ends to avoid splitting.
Can Radiata Pine be formed, bent or molded?
Steam-bends only moderately (best for gentle radii on clear straight-grained stock); most curved work is done by laminating thin kiln-dried lamellae.
What surface finishes work on Radiata Pine?
Sands well but the soft earlywood dents easily; seal or use sanding sealer/water-based stain-blocker to prevent blotchy staining and resin bleed, then lacquer, UV or paint; exterior use requires preservative treatment plus coating.
Radiata Pine 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 |
|---|---|---|
| celluloseoven-dry basis | 38 – 45 | 42 |
| hemicellulosemainly galactoglucomannan | 22 – 28 | 25 |
| ligninguaiacyl-type softwood lignin | 26 – 30 | 28 |
| extractives (resin, fatty acids)higher in heartwood and knots | 1 – 5 | 3 |
| ash | 0.15 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
Radiata Pine KD — frequently asked
What is Radiata Pine KD used for?
Radiata Pine KD is typically used for furniture, finger-jointed board, plywood, packaging crates and interior mouldings. In short: lowest-cost machining softwood; consistent plantation supply; needs treatment for exterior use.
What is the tensile strength of Radiata Pine KD?
Radiata Pine KD has a typical tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) — stronger than 73% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Radiata Pine KD easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 86% of natural material grades). Very easy to saw, plane, mould and CNC-route; use sharp carbide and adequate chip clearance — resin loading on tooling and fuzzy earlywood are the usual issues.
Can Radiata Pine KD be welded?
Not weldable; joined by PVA/EPI/PUR/urea adhesives, finger joints, nails, screws and connector plates — pre-drill near ends to avoid splitting.
What surface finishes work on Radiata Pine KD?
Sands well but the soft earlywood dents easily; seal or use sanding sealer/water-based stain-blocker to prevent blotchy staining and resin bleed, then lacquer, UV or paint; exterior use requires preservative treatment plus coating.
Can Radiata Pine KD be formed, bent or molded?
Steam-bends only moderately (best for gentle radii on clear straight-grained stock); most curved work is done by laminating thin kiln-dried lamellae.
What is the maximum service temperature of Radiata Pine KD?
Radiata Pine KD is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °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), mechanical & thermal property tables incl. Pinus radiata — USDA Forest Products Laboratory (2010)
- EN 13556 — Round and sawn timber: nomenclature of timbers used in Europe (code PIRA) — CEN (2003)
- EN 338 — Structural timber, strength classes (radiata typically C16/C24) — CEN (2016)
- AS/NZS 1748 / NZS 3603 timber design and MGP grading practice for radiata pine — Standards New Zealand (2011)
- Radiata pine wood property summaries — Scion (NZ Forest Research Institute) (2019)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — sawn softwood, kiln dried — Circular Ecology (2019)
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.