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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Scientific Name Pteleopsis hylodendron Trade Name Koframire Family Name Combretaceae Common Names Koframire, Mukala, Osanga, Sikon Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer Heartwood Color Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Wavy Interlocked Closed Straight Even Wavy Interlocked Straight Texture Fine Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Non durable Drying Defects Checking Splitting Ease of Drying Slowly Rapidly Easy Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Movement in Service Stable Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = hard Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2628 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6302 9236 psi Stiffness 1460 1686 1000 psi Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 1192 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 443 649 kg/cm2 Stiffness 102 118 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References 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 Fouarge, J.,1953,Bois du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Okeke, R.E.,1966,Comparative Anatomy of three Nigerian Afzelia Species,Department of Forest Research, Ibadan, Nigeria, Forest Products Research,Laboratory Report No.9 Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. 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