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Blunting Effect Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Erythrophleum africanum Trade Name African blackwood Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Gleditsia africana Common Names African blackwood, Bupunga, Elagji, Goro-meli, Kasuko, Kayimbi, Missanda, Mkarati, Mukoso, Mukuso, Munyunya, Mushati, Muwako, Ordeal tree, Prekese, Samberu, Sise, Sungwoi, Umbako, Umsenya, Umsenyo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Charcoal, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Paneling, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels Heartwood Color Brown Red Black Purple Green/grey Reddish brown Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Pinkish Paler than heartwood Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Interlocked Texture Medium Fine Fine Luster Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Durable Silica Content High Siliceous Light-Induced Color Change None Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Bark width is 15-20 mm Bark width is 5-10 mm Bark width is 10-15 mm Tree height is 40-50 m Blunting Effect High to severe Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Difficult to machine Turning Easy to turn Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Bending strength (MOR) = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = very high Work to maximum Load = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness (total work) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13830 20576 psi Density 58 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2513 lbs Impact Strength 40 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 8908 12273 psi Shearing Strength 2630 psi Stiffness 2041 2352 1000 psi Toughness 250 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 12 17 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 57 51 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 972 1446 kg/cm2 Density 929 kg/m3 Hardness 1139 kg Impact Strength 101 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 626 862 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 184 kg/cm2 Stiffness 143 165 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 288 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.84 1.19 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 913 817 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 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 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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 Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Pardy, A.A.,1955,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Erythophleum,africanum,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1851 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 Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London