The wood has long been used in many commercial applications, such as model-building, packing, and insulation, and also in flotation devices (balsa is Spanish for “raft” or “float”). The seed fibre is used as stuffing for mattresses and cushions.
What are advantages of balsa wood?
Advantages of balsa wood
- Balsa wood is lightweight, soft and highly buoyant.
- It is lighter than cork and thus ideal for life preservers and lifebelts.
- Being light and soft, it is perfect for model building. ...
- It is a good insulator and is therefore used in refrigerators and cold storage rooms.
What is unique about balsa wood?
Balsa wood is very light, soft and buoyant, with a coarse, open grain. It is one of the lightest varieties of wood available, but not the absolute featherweight. It is remarkably sturdy however, and is often considered the strongest wood for its weight in the world.
