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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 Carving 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Acacia arabica Trade Name Babul Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Babbar, Babla, Babola, Babul, Babur, Bamura, Baval, Bawal, Fali, Gabur bakar, Gobalu, Gobli, Jali, Kalikikar, Karrijali, Karuvai, Karuvelam, Karuvelum, Kikar, Meshwal, Nella tuma, Tamma, Tuma, Vedi-babul Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burma, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Canoes, Carvings, Charcoal, Crossties, Door, Dyewood , Flooring, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Lifeboats, Light construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stakes, Structural work, Tool handles, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Distribution Overview Babul is widespread in Africa and Asia, and can also be found in Australia. In Kenya, it is mainly found at 900 to 2 000 m. It is found in well watered Sahelian and Sudanian savannas to the southern Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and in the Gambia, the Sudan, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, and on lateritic soil in the Himalayan foothills in India (where it is indigenous to Sind, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra). It is also cultivated in other areas, including Sri Lanka. Heartwood Color Red Brown White Pink Purple White to cream Reddish brown Pale red to pink Turn reddish brown upon exposure Red Pinkish white Light red Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Whitish Clearly differentiated from the heartwood It turns to pale yellow upon exposure. Wide sapwood Grain Interlocked Figure Straight Other (figure) Closed Even Wavy Rays (figure) Rippled (figure) Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Other figure Wavy Straight to interlocked Rippled figure Rays figure Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium Fine Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Fine to medium Luster High Medium Low Pronounced Lustrous Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Durable Very durable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Sapwood not resistant to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is vulnerable to insect attack and tends to decay rapidly Moderately durable Durable heartwood after seasoning Logs should be debarked promptly after felling, and conversion in the dry season should be avoided Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Splitting Checking Surface checks End splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Rapidly Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Easy Difficult Moderate Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Slow Drying rate is slow Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Sapwood width is greater than 25 cm Tree height is 0-10 m Bark width is 20-25 mm Tree height is 20-30 m May appear stunted under unfavorable growing conditions Blunting Effect Little High to severe Slight dulling effect on cutting edges Blunting effect on machining is severe Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Nailing (Ease) = ,1,2,3,5 Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant The heartwood responds fairly well to treatment, but complete penetration is not always obtained. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Difficult to machine Yields a smooth, clean finish Moderate working qualities Excellent response Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good Easy to turn Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Good results Requires a filler Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight)= 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Weight = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Resists denting and marring Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = high Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13312 20655 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2652 lbs Impact Strength 64 47 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6857 10376 psi Shearing Strength 2519 psi Stiffness 1674 1899 1000 psi Toughness 186 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.6 0.61 Weight 55 49 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 935 1452 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 1202 kg Impact Strength 162 119 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 482 729 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 177 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 133 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 214 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.6 0.61 Weight 881 785 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Chawla, J.S., Sharma, A.N., Gupta, P.K.,1968,Study of some Hardwoods for Pulping,Pulp and Paper,23(6, pp393-99 Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41 Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico Fors, A.J.,1949,Maderas Industriales de Colombia,Caribbean Forester,10(3,pp161-96 Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132 Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol 1, No. 2, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol 1, No. 4, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. Limaye, V.D.,1957,Grouping of Indian Timbers and Their Properties, Uses and Suitability.,Indian Forest Records (N.S. Timber Mechanics Vol.1 No.2) Loureiro, A.A., Freitas da Silva, M.,1968,Catalogo das Madeiras da Amazonia (2 vols,Min. do Ultramar Belem Brasil Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas Nazma,1981,A handbook of Kerala Timbers,Kerala Forest Research Institute Research Report, No.9 Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Ramesh, Rao K., Purkayastha, S.K.,1972,Indian Woods - Their Identification Properties and Uses,Dehra Dun India,Vol. 3 Rao, K.R. and S.K. Purkayastha. 1972. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume III - Leguminosae to Combretaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Saeed Ahmed, S., Mahammad Ayaz, and Taj Mohammad,1977,Properties and Uses of Commercial Timbers in Pakistan,Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Division of Forest Products Bulletin,No.3 Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.) Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24 Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29 Trotter, H.,1940,Manual of Indian Forest Utilization,O.U.P. Indian Branch, Calcutta Villamil, F.G.,1971,Maderas Colombianas,Proexpo Colombia Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190 Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85