Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size		Scientific Name Albizia spp. Trade Name Albizzia Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Albizzia, Ayinre, Kokko, Lebbek, Mduruasi, Mtanga, Mugavu, Nongo, Okuro, Uwowe Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Veneer: decorative Distribution Overview Widely distributed throughout tropical Africa; mostly trees of the high forest are exploited, but also common in secondary forests. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Black Purple Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Dark brown Reddish brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink White to yellow Pinkish Different than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Closed Even Wavy Other (figure) Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Wavy Other figure Texture Coarse Fine Medium Coarse Medium Fine Natural Durability Very durable Perishable Non-durable Resistant to termites Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Non durable Very durable Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D Fr=5 Dry at a slow speed Uk=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Ease of Drying Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect Little Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to mortise Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor moulding results Difficult to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes to a poor finish Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9005 14056 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1547 lbs Impact Strength 23 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5620 8424 psi Shearing Strength 1947 psi Stiffness 1354 1566 1000 psi Weight 35 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 633 988 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 701 kg Impact Strength 58 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 395 592 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 136 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 560 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1951,Albizzia spp.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Timber Leaflet Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38 Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition Uganda Forest Department,1954,Albizzia,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.18