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Blunting Effect
Boring
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Pericopsis angolensis

Trade Name
Afromosia

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Ormosia angolensis, Afrormosia angolensis


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Afromosia, Chianga, Chiwanga, East African afrormosia, Mbanga, Mmanga, Muanga, Mubamku, Muvanga, Muwanga, Mwanga, Umbanga

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Central African Republic, Tanzania, Zaire, Zimbabwe

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Charcoal, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Heartwood Color
Black
Brown
Pale brown
Greenish to greyish
Dark brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Black


Sapwood Color
Green/Grey
Brown
White to yellow
Well defined


Grain
Interlocked
Distinct (figure)
Figure
Even
Straight

Interlocked
Distinct and very fine figure
Straight


Texture
Even or uniform
Fine
Uniform
Resinous and oily
Fine to medium
Medium
Fine


Natural Growth Defects
Gum and mineral deposits


Natural Durability
Durable
Very durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Slight surface checking


Ease of Drying
Easy


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is unknown
Bole/stem form is not buttressed


Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is severe


Boring
Easy


Cutting Resistance
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult


Gluing
Easy to glue


Mortising
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Good finishing results
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Medium
Stable


Nailing
Difficult to nail
Possible if prebored


Planing
Planes well, to a good finish
Difficult to plane
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Very Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Difficult to machine


Turning
Good results
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Veneers easily
Suitable for peeling
Veneers moderately easy


Steam Bending
Moderate


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
High
Mor/Bending strength = medium
Hardness (side grain) = hard
53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Medium
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft.
Very hard
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Medium
Max. crushing strength = very high
Low
Low
High
46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Very high
Small
38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
38-45 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength954714879psi
Density54lbs/ft3
Hardness2524lbs
Impact Strength34inches
Maximum Crushing Strength759610755psi
Shearing Strength2384psi
Stiffness166519231000 psi
Weight5343lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage4%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength6711046kg/cm2
Density865kg/m3
Hardness1144kg
Impact Strength86cm
Maximum Crushing Strength534756kg/cm2
Shearing Strength167kg/cm2
Stiffness1171351000 kg/cm2
Weight849689kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

References
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

Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal]

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1978,Kosipo - Entandrophragma candollei,Bois et Forets des Tropiques No.181,pp29-40

Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35

Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research

Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi

Duff, C.E.,1944,Termite Resistance Test on the Copperbelt of Northern Rhodesia,Empire Forestry Journal,23(2,pp160-2

Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola

Ferreirinha, M.P.,1955,Catalogo des Madeiras de Mocambique (pt 1,Min. do Ultramar Junta Invest. do Ultranar Memorias Serie Botanica, 2

Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9

Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago - British West Indies,O.U.P.,London

McCoy-Hill, M.,1955,Timbers of Tanganyika - Afrormosia and East African Mahogany,Timber Technology,63(2196, pp538-9

Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.

Pardy, A.A.,1952,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Afrormosia,angolensis,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1675

Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola

Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7

Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14

Tanzania Forest Department,1966,Flooring Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika

Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Afrormosia angolensis (East African Afrormosia - Mbanga,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika

Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi

White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London