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Blunting Effect
Boring
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
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
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities
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Common Names
Faveira, Goma pashaca, Kouatakama, Mahot rouge, Mora, Mora bukea, Mora de guayana, Moraboekea, Morabukea, Morera, Nato, Nato rojo, Parakwai, Pracuuba, Royo, Tamarindo, Visgueiro
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
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Distribution Overview
The natural growth range of this species is confined to the forests in Guyana and Surinam. It is described as a dominant species which prefers heavy clay soils on hillsides.
Heartwood Color
| Brown |
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| Purple |
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| Green/grey |
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| Red |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Dark brown |
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| Brown |
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| Pale red to pink |
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| Dark brown |
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| Yellowish |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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The heartwood is yellowish-red brown, reddish brown or dark red with lighter streaks.
Sapwood Color
| Brown |
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| White to yellow |
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| Different than heartwood |
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| Well defined |
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| Pinkish |
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| Paler than heartwood |
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| Pale yellow |
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| Distinct from the heartwood |
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Grain
| Straight |
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| Interlocked |
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| Figure |
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| Closed |
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| Even |
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| Wavy |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Variable (figure) |
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| Rippled (figure) |
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| Straight |
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| Interlocked |
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| Wavy |
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| Variable figure |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Rippled figure |
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Texture
| Fine |
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| Coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Medium coarse to coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Fine to medium |
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| Coarse |
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| Fine |
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Luster
| Medium |
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| Low |
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| Lustrous |
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| Pronounced |
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| Medium to high |
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Natural Durability
| Perishable |
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| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Durable |
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| Susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Very durable |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Non durable |
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| Moderately durable |
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| Highly resistant to attack by drywood termites |
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| Heartwood resistance to decay varies by species |
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Material from Surinam and Guyana is resistant to very resistant to attack by brown-rot and white-rot fungi
Odor
There is usually an astringent taste and a slightly sour odor
Toxicity
| Respiratory effects |
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| Dermatitic effects |
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Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
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| UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 |
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| T2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US |
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Drying Defects
| Distortion |
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| Moderate surface checking |
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| Severe twisting/warping |
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| Moderate twist/warp |
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| Severe cupping |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| No resin/gum exudation |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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Improper stacking may cause the material to warp. Stock with boxed heart are liable to split
Ease of Drying
| Slowly |
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| Reconditioning Treatement |
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| Little degrade |
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| Difficult |
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| Moderate |
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| Timber should be stacked carefully |
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| Easy |
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| Dry slowly and carefully to minimize degrade |
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Reports on drying vary, but it is generally moderately to season
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
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| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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The tree is reported to often attain a height of 100 to 120 feet (30 to 37 m), with a trunk diameter of 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm) above large buttresses which may be 15 feet (4.5 m) high
Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber for local consumption. Export potential is rated as fair.
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
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| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
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| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe |
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Boring
| Very good to excellent results |
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| Fairly easy to very easy |
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| Interlocked grain may cause chipping and pick-up in boring operations |
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| Fairly difficult to penetrate with preservatives |
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Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
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| Yields smooth clean surfaces |
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| Moderate to fairly difficult to saw |
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| Interlocked grain may result in considerable pick-up and chipped grain |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate |
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Mortising
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Movement in Service
Nailing
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Possible if prebored |
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| Difficult to nail |
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Planing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Straight grained material yields clean surfaces |
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| Planes to a poor finish |
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| Difficult to plane |
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Timber containing interlocked grain may chip and pick-up considerably.
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood |
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| Permeable heartwood |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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| Heartwood is resistant |
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| Heartwood is extremely resistant |
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| Sapwood is moderately resistant |
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Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
| Responds Readily |
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| Difficult to machine |
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| Moderate working qualities |
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| Easy to machine |
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Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly difficult to penetrate with preservatives |
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Sanding
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Moderately difficult to sand |
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Screwing
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Easy to screw |
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Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to turn |
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| Poor results |
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| Straight grained material yields smooth surfaces |
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| Interlocked grain makes turning fairly difficult |
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| Difficult to turn |
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Veneering Qualities
| No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting |
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| Moderately easy to veneer |
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Steam Bending
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Satisfactory results |
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Staining
| Reacts with Iron to discolour wood |
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| Finish is generally satisfactory |
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Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = large |
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| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high |
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| Hardness (side grain) = very hard |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high |
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| Max. crushing strength = very high |
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| Max. crushing strength = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = very high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high |
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| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium |
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| Max. crushing strength = medium |
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| Hardness (side grain) = hard |
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| Very heavy |
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| Very hard |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large |
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| Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft |
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| Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft |
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| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
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The species is considerably stronger than White oak or Teak. It has exceptionally high bending strength qualities when air-dried. It is very hard, and may require special tools to process. The weight is exceptionally high, even in the seasoned condition. It is much heavier than Teak or White oak. The species has very high density.
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 14384 | 23627 | psi |
| Density | | 62 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 2895 | lbs |
| Impact Strength | | 55 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 7709 | 12353 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 2755 | psi |
| Stiffness | 2391 | 3010 | 1000 psi |
| Work to Maximum Load | | 24 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.72 | | |
| Weight | 62 | 50 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | | % |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 19 | | % |
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| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 1011 | 1661 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 993 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 1313 | kg |
| Impact Strength | | 139 | cm |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 542 | 868 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 193 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 168 | 211 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Work to Maximum Load | | 1.68 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.72 | | |
| Weight | 993 | 801 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | | % |
References
Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45
Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.
Caribbean Commission,1952,Information on properties of timbers gathered by questionnaire and,collated in the secretariat of the Caribbean Commission including some,related data from technical literature.,Caribbean Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad Caribbean Timbers, their,Utilization and Trad |