At One Place

Teak

Density of teak
655 kg/m³ (600–720)
0.66 g/cm³ · 40.9 lb/ft³

Its natural oils make it rot-proof, insect-proof and stable in water without any treatment, which is why it has been the yacht decking timber for as long as there have been yachts. Those oils also mean it resists glue and varnish — teak is bonded with epoxy after wiping with acetone, and traditionally left bare to silver rather than finished. The silica in the wood blunts steel tools remarkably fast, so carbide tooling is standard.

Properties

Density
655 kg/m³ (600–720) — 0.66 g/cm³
Young's modulus
10.7 GPa
Floats in water
Yes
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Yacht decking and trim
  • Outdoor garden furniture
  • Shower and bathroom fittings
  • Laboratory bench tops

How it compares

Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.

air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
teak 655 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.
Material Density Relative to water
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³ 0.04×
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³ 0.02×
air 1.2 kg/m³ 0.00×
teak ← 655 kg/m³ 0.66×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

Teak contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

Is it magnetic?

Teak is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of teak?
655 kg/m³ (600–720), or 0.66 g/cm³.
Does teak float?
Yes. At 655 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
Is teak magnetic?
Teak is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked