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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 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 Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Pericopsis elata Trade Name Afrormosia Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Afrormosia, Anyeran, Asamela, Assamela, Assemela, Awawai, Ayin, Baracara, Benin satinwood, Bohala, Bohalala, Bonsamdua, Devils tree, Egbi, Ejen, Golden afrormosia, Jatobahy do igapo, Kokriki, Kokrodua, Mekoe, Mohole, Obang, Ole, Olel Pardo, Peonio, Redbark, Satinwood, Tento, Wahala, Yellow satinwood Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Endangered Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Afrormosia is Rare within its natural growth range in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, and its environmental status in Ghana is officially classified as Vulnerable. This species has also been listed in CITES Appendix II for material from West Africa. The appendix includes species that 'May Become Threatened' if their trade is not controlled. An in-country issued export permit is required to verify that the source of material is legal, and its removal will doe not threaten the survival of the species (Source - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - CITES - March, 1993) Distribution Overview Afrormorsia occurs in the semi-deciduous forests in West and Central Africa, and is found mostly in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Congo. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey White Black Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Reddish brown Purple The heartwood is initially orange-brown or brown in color, but turns into brownish-yellow, with darker streaks upon exposure. It has also been described as warm crimson-brown, lightened by bands of a bright golden-brown shade. The annual rings are usually distinct because of darker bands of dry-season material. The timber is reported to resemble fine-grained Teak (Tectona grandis) in appearance, but without the oily texture. Tannin in the wood can cause blue stains Sapwood Color White Yellow Paler than heartwood White to yellow Well defined Same as heartwood Light brown Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Even Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Mottled (figure) Straight Interlocked Striped figure Rippled figure Distinct figure Slightly interlocked Mottled figure Generally straight, but not always Wood surfaces are reported to exhibit a rippling sheen because of pores that are scattered evenly in small groups throughout the wood. Quartered surfaces exhibit a mottled figure Texture Fine Medium Fine Fine to medium Medium Luster Medium High Pronounced Medium Natural Durability Durable Perishable Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Resistant to termites Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles The heartwood is rated as very durable and could last for more than 25 years in contact with the ground. The timber is rarely attacked by marine borers and is highly resistant to attack by termites in West Africa. Afrormosia should not be used in contact with iron and iron compounds under moist conditions, since corrosion will promote discoloration in the wood Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change None Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Poisonous Sawdust from machining operations is reported to cause eye irritation in some individuals. Good ventilation around working areas is recommended Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Distortion Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight twist/warp The timber may distort slightly upon drying Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Easy Kiln-Drying is satisfactorily under moderate schedules Dries slowly with little degrade The wood ranges from fairly difficult to fairly easy to dry Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The unbuttressed trees attain heights of 160 feet (49 m). Boles are usually straight and are clear for about 100 feet (30 m). Trunk diameters are reported to to be 48 to 60 inches (120 to 150 cm). Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced regularly but in limited quantities. Export of the material is regular. Adequate quantities of Afrormosia in the form of logs, flitches, and lumber are available at prices that are lower than teak and other comparable exotic hardwoods. Substitutes Timbauba (Enterolobium schomburgkii) and Oiticica amarela (Clarisia racemosa) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Medium blunting effect on cutting tools Blunting is much less pronounced than in Teak. Boring Fairly easy to very easy Tool exits should be supported to prevent break out Easy Bored surfaces are generally smooth Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Carves well in dry condition Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saws well Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Support material during mortising to prevent break out. Good mortising properties Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Properly seasoned wood has remarkabe stability, with very little dimensional change in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to plane Responds well to hand and machine tools Easy to plane A cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended to minimize grain tearing during planing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Softwood is fairly permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine The wood responds well to hand tools to produce smooth surfaces. Routing & Recessing Yields clean surfaces Sanding Yields a smooth surface Yields a clean surface Fair sanding qualities Screwing Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Good results Turns well to yield smooth surfaces Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Satisfactory polishing properties Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Satisfactory staining properties Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Mor/Bending strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Very small Small 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Moderate Medium Low Fairly large 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Very low Very high Very high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Max. crushing strength = high Low Low Large Large High High Hard Fairly large Ending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is very high. Compression strength parallel to grain, or maximum crushing strength, is very high - higher than in Teak or Hard maple. It is fairly hard, resisting wear, denting, and marring fairly well. The weight is high. The wood has high density. Work to Maximum Load Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14152 19310 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1663 lbs Impact Strength 52 45 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 7342 9890 psi Shearing Strength 2167 psi Stiffness 1719 1838 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 16 17 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.54 0.63 Weight 45 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 995 1357 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 754 kg Impact Strength 131 114 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 516 695 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 152 kg/cm2 Stiffness 120 129 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 1.12 1.19 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.54 0.63 Weight 721 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % 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 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1956,Asamela (Afrormosia elata,Bios et Forets des Tropiques,No.50,pp17-20 Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. 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