Advanced Composites

Baltek - Balsa Core
The most commonly used wood core is end-grain balsa. Apart from its high compressive properties, its advantages include being a good thermal insulator and offering good acoustic absorption. The material will not deform when heated and acts as an insulating and ablative layer in a fire. It also offers positive flotation and is easily worked with simple tools and equipment. One of the disadvantages of balsa is its high minimum density compared to foam cores. This can be exacerbated by the fact that balsa can absorb large quantities of resin during lamination, although pre-sealing the core will reduce this tendency.

Close Window