Chestnut (Castanea spp.) contains about 7 to 12 species distributed in North America [4], Europe [1], and Asia [7]. The word castanea is the classical Greek and Latin name of chestnut. European chestnut (Castanea sativa) was introduced into England by the Romans, probably as food for domestic animals. North American chestnut trees were virtually wiped out by the fungus Endothia parasitica. The different species of chestnut hybridize with each other. All species look alike microscopically.
Other Common Names: chestnut, prickly O-heh-yah-bur, sweet chestnut, white chestnut, wormy chestnut.
Distribution: American chestnut's preblight range extended from Maine west to Michigan and south to Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The major stands were in southern New England and the Appalachian Mountains. The finest timber came from the Appalachians.
The Tree: American chestnut used to grow to a height of 120 ft (37 m), with a diameter of 7 ft (2.1 m). Its ability to sprout from the cut or dead stump has kept this species in existence, temporarily, although the blight eventually kills the sprouts.
General Wood Characteristics: The narrow sapwood of chestnut is near white, while the heartwood is grayish brown to brown and darkens with age. The wood is coarse, intermediate in strength, light in weight, low in shock resistance, and of average hardness and moderate shrinkage. It can be kiln dried or air seasoned with minimal problems.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.40 55 881
12% 0.43 30 481
Ovendry 0.45 NA NA
a References: specific gravity, green and
12%, (98);
specific gravity, ovendry, (59); weight,
(59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 0.93 106 6.412 GPa 1.23 106 8.481 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 5.60 103 38.612 MPa 8.60 103 59.297 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 2.47 103 17.031 MPa 5.32 103 36.681 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.31 103 2.137 MPa 0.62 103 4.275 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 7.0 48.265 kJ/m3 6.5 in-lbf/in3 44.818
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 420 lbf 1868.16 N 540 lbf 2401.92 N
Shear| | 0.80 103 5.516 MPa 1.08 103 7.446 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
aReference (98).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential 6.7 5.4 2.2
Radial 3.4 2.7 1.1
Volumetric 11.6 9.3 3.9
aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20%
MC, (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4, 8/4 10/4 12/4 16/4
Condition 6/4 stock stock stock stock
stock
Standard T10-E4 T8-E3 NA NA NA
aReferences (6, 86).
Working Properties: Chestnut is easy to work with tools and is easily glued. Because it splits readily, care is required in nailing.
Durability: Rated as very resistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Lumber, tannin extract, furniture, caskets, boxes, crates, core stock for plywood, poles, railroad ties, pulpwood, shingles, barrel staves, mine timbers, fuelwood.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74, 81. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.