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Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Scientific Name Cordia trichotoma Trade Name Afata Family Name Boraginaceae Synonyms Cordia excelsa, Cordia frondosa, Cordia hypoleuca, Cordia tomentosa Common Names Afata, Afata grande, Ajui, Alatrique, Amapa prieta, Arbol del ajo, Baria amarilla, Bohun, Bois de cipre, Bois de cype, Bojon, Bojon blanco, Bojon prieto, Brown silverballi, Buhun, Canalete de humo, Canjaro, Capa, Capa roja, Capaw, Cascudinho, Cautaro, Claraiba, Dzeui, Frei jorge, Freijo, Hormiguero, Lapachillo, Laurel, Laurel blanco, Laurel hembre, Laurel macho, Laurel negro, Loro, Loro amarillo, Loro negro, Louro, Louro amarello, Louro amarelo, Louro mutamba, Louro pardo, Louro-batata, Louro-da-serra, Louro-do-sul, Mutamba, Nopo, Palo de maria, Palo de rosa, Palo de rosa del pais, Pardillo, Pardillo de monte, Pau cacharro, Peterebi, Peterebi saiyu, Petereby, Petereri-hu, Peteribi saiyo, Prince wood, Salaam, Salmwood, Spanish elm, Suchah, Suchicahue, Tambor, Taparai, Urua, Uruasinho, Uruazeiro, Varia, Varia colorada Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay Common Uses Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cooperages, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Paneling, Plywood, Structural work, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Red Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Brown Sapwood Color White Pink Yellow White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Even Texture Medium Coarse Luster High Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Durable Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Nailing Easy to nail Planing Easy to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Polishing Satisfactory results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11870 18400 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1089 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Shearing Strength 1989 psi Stiffness 1748 2016 1000 psi Weight 36 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 834 1293 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 493 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 139 kg/cm2 Stiffness 122 141 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 576 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Brazier, J.D.,1975,Properties and uses of Brazilian woods,Journal of the Institute of Wood Science,7(2,pp50-57 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Celulosa Argentina,1973,Libro del Arbol,Celulosa Argentina Buenos Aires 3 Vols Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416 Mainieri, C.,1970,Madeiras Brasilieras,Sao Paulo Secretaria da Agricultra, Institulo Florestral Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil 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.) Tortorelli, L.,1956,Maderas y Bosques Argentinos,Editorial Acme S.A.C.I. Buenos Aires Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857 Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.