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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Anthocephalus cadamba

Trade Name
Kadam

Family Name
Rubiaceae

Synonyms
Nauclea purpurea, Nauclea cadamba, Neolamarckia cadamba, Sarcocephalus cadamba, Anthocephalus cadamba, Anthocephalus indicus


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Aparabire, Arsanatega, Arsantega, Atta vanji, Attu tek, Attu-teak, Bance pute, Bangkal, Bol-kadam, Cadamb, Cadamba, Chakka, Embul-bakmi, Entipong, Galupai, Galupai bengkal, Gao, Gumpayan, Hanja, Harapean, Heltega, Ilan, Jabon, Jabun, Johan, Kaatoan, Kaatoan bangkal, Kadaga, Kadam, Kadambe, Kadambo, Kadda vailu, Kadwal, Kalampain, Kalempayan, Kelampah, Kelampai, Kelampaian, Kelampayan, Kelampayon, Kelampeyan, Kelapan, Kelempajan, Kelempi, Kiuna, Klampeyan, Kodavara, Kodum, Kola ayila, Kurambo, Labula, Lampaian, Laran, Limpoh, Loeraa, Ludai, Ma-u, Ma-uguagdon, Ma-uguangdon, Ma-ukadon, Maoo, Masarambi, Mau-lettan-she, Mugawe, Nhyu, Pandur, Pedda-soko, Pekaung, Pelapain, Phuya, Pontua, Roghu, Rudrak-shamba, Sanko, Sanyepang, Selepaian, Selimpoh, Sempayan, Sencari, Serebunaik, Suge manai, Sugi manai, Taloh, Tawa telan, Toa, Tuak, Tuneh, Tuwak, Vella cadamba, Vellei kadambu, Ye-ma-u

Regions of Distribution
Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Australia, Bangladesh, Burma, Fiji [Polynesia], India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Vietnam

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Artificial limbs, Balusters, Baskets, Beams, Beehives, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Particleboard, Pencil, Planks, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Structural plywood, Structural work, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Veneer, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Generally secure within its natural habitat
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center


Distribution Overview
Widely distributed from India to the Malayan Peninsula, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, and Australia.  Grows best on deep, moist, alluvial sites, often in secondary forests along riverbanks.  A favored plantation species inside and outside its native region.

Heartwood Color
White
Yellow
Orange
Red
Brown
Green/grey
White to cream
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Yellow - light
Whitish
Greenish to greyish


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Red
Same as heartwood
White to yellow
White with a yellowish tinge


Grain
Straight
Crossed
Interlocked
Even
Spiral
Figure
Weak (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Weak figure
Spiral


Texture
Medium
Fine
Coarse
Even or uniform
Uniform
Fine to medium
Medium to coarse
Medium
Fine
Moderately fine to moderately coarse
Even textured
Coarse


Luster
Low
Medium
Dull
Slightly lustrous
Lustrous
Low


Natural Growth Defects
Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive


Natural Durability
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Perishable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to termites
Resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to marine borers
Non durable
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Perishable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Very little natural resistance to decay in ground contact
Susceptible to blue stain attack
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Readily attacked by powder-post beetles and marine borers
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
T10-D4S (4/4);T8-D3S (8/4) US Schedule H (4/4); United Kingdom
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Collapse
Loose Knots
Checking
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Slight surface checking
Slight degrade in the form of loose knots, warping, and collapse may occur
No twisting or warping
No end splitting
Slight twist/warp
Slight end splitting
Slight cupping
Slight collapse and honeycomb
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Easy
Seasons fairly rapidly
Air dries easily and uniformly


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Rapid
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is not buttressed


Tree Size
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Bole length is 30-40 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bark width is 5-10 mm
Tree height is 50-60 m
Tree height is 60-70 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as poor

Blunting Effect
Little
Moderate
Slight blunting effect on cutting tools
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Easy
Side grain fuzziness can be minimized by keeping tool bits very sharp
Pressing the chisel bit lightly on material reduces crushing and tearing
Fair results
Moderately easy
Difficult


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to carve


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Responds readily to sawing
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Good gluing properties


Mortising
Very Good to Excellent Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Poor mortising characteristics
Finishes well


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Small
Retains shape very well after manufacture
Dimensionally stable


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to nail
Easy to nail
Holds nails well


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane
Excellent planed surfaces result from using a 30 degree cutting angle
Planes to a satisfactory finish


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is permeable
Very easy to treat using either open tank or pressure-vacuum systems
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is moderately resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Responds well to hand tools


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Routing yields good results
Routing is easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Responds well to sanding operations
Produces smooth surfaces
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Poor results
Finish is generally satisfactory
Excellent turning properties
Easy to turn
Difficult to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Difficult to veneer
Suitable for slicing
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Suitable for peeling
Good gluing qualities


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results
Poor steam bending characteristics


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Shiny finished surfaces
Fairly good polishing characteristics


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Takes stains readily and well
Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Good varnishing properties


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Max. crushing strength = low
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Surfaces may dent easily
Soft
Mars easily
Does not wear well
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Average weight
Average density
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Shrinkage Volumetric = very small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium

It compares favorably with Teak, which also has high bending strength. Compression strength parallel to grain, or maximum crushing strength, is medium. It is lower in this property than Teak

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength672810896psi
Crushing Strength545990psi
Density26lbs/ft3
Hardness626lbs
Impact Strength2730inches
Maximum Crushing Strength33515767psi
Shearing Strength1214psi
Static Bending38317080psi
Stiffness116013511000 psi
Toughness79inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load610inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.320.42
Weight4226lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength473766kg/cm2
Crushing Strength3869kg/cm2
Density416kg/m3
Hardness283kg
Impact Strength6876cm
Maximum Crushing Strength235405kg/cm2
Shearing Strength85kg/cm2
Static Bending269497kg/cm2
Stiffness81941000 kg/cm2
Toughness91cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.420.70cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.320.42
Weight673416kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
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