Chemical resistance of timber

Timber offers considerable resistance to attack from a wide variety of chemicals including organic materials, dilute acids and hot or cold solutions of acid or neutral salts. Direct contact with caustic soda should be avoided. Strong acids and alkalis will slowly destroy timber.

Softwoods have greater resistance to chemical attack than do hardwoods. Softwoods usually have lower hemicellulose and higher lignin content, so are more able to resist attack.

Ease of penetration of chemicals into timber is also of practical importance. Resin has some inhibiting effect so that softwoods such as Douglas fir and slash pine usually have good resistance to chemicals if they are free of sapwood.

Due to its resistance to chemical attack, timber is commonly used to construct vats and tanks for chemical storage and for structural members in factories where corrosive vapours are present.

Reference: "Timber Datafile P1 – Timber Species and Properties of the NAFI Timber Manual."

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Timber Research Unit
Department of Architecture
University of Tasmania