Search for

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 Comments 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cullenia exarillata Trade Name Aini-pillao Family Name Bombacaceae Synonyms Cullenia excelsa Common Names Aini-pillao, Ainipla, Chakkamullan, Kabodda, Kai aini, Kar aini, Kar-ayani, Karani, Katu-boda, Korangupilavu, Malai-konji, Mullen-chakka, Mullen-pali, Mullu-plaka, Mulluchakka, Polavu, Vedapla, Vedipila, Vedupla, Vetipla, Wild durian Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Sri Lanka Common Uses Boxes and crates, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Paneling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Roofing, Tool handles Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Orange Pink Green/grey Pale red to pink Pale brown Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Same as heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Coarse Medium Fine Medium Luster High Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Non-durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Perishable Non durable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Distortion Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Moderate High to severe Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Unsuitable Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Stiffness 1916 2209 1000 psi Weight 35 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Stiffness 134 155 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 560 448 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Bourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government Press Chowdhury, K.A., Ghosh, S.S.,1958,Indian Woods: Their identification, properties and uses Vol. I,Dilleruaceae to Elaeocarpaceae,Manager of Publications, Delhi, India 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