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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 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting 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 Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Chrysophyllum africanum Trade Name Abam Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Chrysophyllum africanum Common Names Abam, Akatio, Anandio, Aniegrerose, Aningueri, Aningueri rouge, Balata blanca, Bleing, Bompambu, Bopambu, Caimitillo, Caimito, Caimito morado, Canela, Carne de vaca, Feuilles rousses, Goldenleaf, Kokoritiballi, Lechecillo, Longhi, Longhui, Longui, Longui rouge, M'bebame Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Beams, Bent Parts, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Plywood, Stairworks, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Very little threat to its natural environment. Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Tropical west and east Africa. From Sierra Leone to the Congo region and Angola; found in rain forest and transitional formations, often planted for its edible fruits. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Pink Tan Pale red to pink Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Whitish upon exposure White to cream Darkens with age Contains dark streaks Sapwood Color Brown White Red Yellow Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Pale-colored Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Even Silver tint (figure) Stripe (figure) Straight Striped figure Silver tinted figure Occasionally interlocked, but not always Interlocked The wood possesses a fine, though barely visible, silver figure. Texture Fine Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Medium Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Durable Non durable Very vulnerable to marine borer attack Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack by Lyctus Moderately resistant to attack by termites Durable Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Severe surface checking Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Fairly Easy Requires special attention Slowly Moderate Easy Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber production from the species is not regular. It is exported only in low volumes. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally strong, tough, and hard. Blunting Effect Slight Boring Easy Carving Good results Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Glues well Easy to glue Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Good finishing results Movement in Service Medium Nailing Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Treatable by pressure processes Moderately resistant Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Excellent response Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Sanding Easy to sand Screwing Good screwing properties Turning Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Bolt preparation requires steaming Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Very heavy Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13404 19836 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 6153 9440 psi Stiffness 1762 2132 1000 psi Toughness 235 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.59 Weight 49 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 14 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 942 1394 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 432 663 kg/cm2 Stiffness 123 149 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 270 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.59 Weight 785 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % 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 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 France - C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets 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. 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