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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Ctenolophon parvifolius Trade Name Mertas Family Name Linaceae Common Names Mertas Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Common Uses Bridge construction, Building construction, Construction, Piling, Poles, Shipbuilding, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula. It is commonly found in the forests of the south, and northwards on the west coast of the Thailand border, generally found scattered in the lowland and hill forests. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pale brown It is described as rather plain in appearance, without any characteristic markings or figure Sapwood Color Pink Red Grain Closed Interlocked Interlocked Sometimes wavy. Texture Medium Fine to medium Even textured Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Perishable Moderate resistance to decay fungi Resin Content Discharges small amounts of resin when cut Contains resin The wood a shiny appearance Drying Defects Checking Distortion Tendency to check is moderate, and the wood may distort slightly. Shrinkage is medium Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m The trees are reported to grow to medium size Comments Corrosive Properties The wood is reported to contain chemicals that may stain and corrode textiles and iron-containing compounds under damp conditions, but they are controllable Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Nailing Difficult to nail Planing Hardly distinguishable from heartwood Requires tipped cutters in planing and other machining operations for best results Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Polishing Satisfactory results Staining Stains well Strength Properties Resists denting and marring Heavy Density (dry weight) = 75+ lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Maximum crushing strength, or compression parallel to grain in the air-dry condition, is in the very high range. It is stronger than Hard maple, White oak, or Teak. It is hard - harder than Hard maple or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14223 17336 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2192 lbs Impact Strength 36 42 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6999 8751 psi Stiffness 2234 2571 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 14 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.68 Weight 68 56 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1000 1218 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 994 kg Impact Strength 91 106 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 492 615 kg/cm2 Stiffness 157 180 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.98 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.68 References Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore.