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Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Chlorophora regia Trade Name Iroko Family Name Moraceae Common Names Abang, Cambala, Iroko, Kambala, Lusanga, Mandji, Mereira, Mokongo, Molundu, Moreira, Mvule, Mvuli, Myule, Odoum, Odum, Oroko, Rokko, Semli, Sili, Simme, Timmi, Tomboiro noir, Tule mufala Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plain veneer, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks, Tables, Turnery, Vats, Veneer, Wheels Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Listed as unknown due to lack of information in most areas within its range including, Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, and Zaire Distribution Overview This widespread species occurs in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Introduced into Nigeria. It shows a preference for dry, flat, light areas. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green/grey Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Yellowish tan Pale brown Darkens with age Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood White to yellow Grain Figure Interlocked Stripe (figure) Interlocked Striped figure Flat sawn surfaces show vessel lines Lighter markings are associated with vessel lines on flatsawn surfaces, while quartersawn surfaces usually have a widely spaced striped figure. Texture Medium Fine Medium to coarse Medium Coarse Luster Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Very durable Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is highly resistant to termite attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Heartwood resistant to decay Heartwood is susceptible to attack by dry-wood insects Good weathering properties Durable Toxicity Dermatitic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D2 (4/4) US Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Slight surface checking Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Discoloration from sticker marks may develop Ease of Drying Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber. Timber export is regular except in the Ivory Coast where exportation of the material in log form is prohibited. Comments Calcareous stone deposits present General finishing qualities are rated as good Reaction wood Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is variable Blunting effect on machining is severe Gluing Glues well Easy to glue Casein glue may produce black glue line Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing properties Planing Good planing properties Easy to plane Difficult to plane Areas of interlocked grain may cause tearing Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Satisfactorily Easy to machine Difficult to machine Screwing Satisfactory screwing properties Easy to screw Steam Bending Moderate Painting Poor results Polishing Good results Staining Stains well after surface treatment Varnishing Satisfactory after treatment Poor turning properties Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength = high Heavy Density = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11023 15433 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4712 7336 psi Stiffness 1119 1298 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.51 0.59 Weight 47 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 775 1085 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 331 515 kg/cm2 Stiffness 78 91 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.51 0.59 Weight 753 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % 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 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 Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. 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