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Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Scientific Name Albizia ferruginea Trade Name Albizzia Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Albizia angolensis, Albizzia corbisieri Common Names Albizzia, Aviemfo-samina, Awiafu-samina, Awiemfo-samina, Awienfosamina, Ayinre, Ayinre - ogo, Elongwamba, Evuvus, Iatandza, Kulo, Latandza, Muchole, Musase, Newei, Nongo, Okuro, Sakachi, Sama tenyo, Samba tene, Sifou-sifou, Tanga tanga, West African albizia, Yatandza, Zazangue Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Model airplanes, Moldings, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Turnery, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Purple Yellow Black Red Orange Dark brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Purple Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Pink White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Pinkish Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Even Other (figure) Distinct (figure) Straight Stripe (figure) Interlocked Other figure Distinct figure Striped figure Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Coarse Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Moderately durable Light-Induced Color Change None Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Uk=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Ease of Drying Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Poor results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity = moderate Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9006 14056 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5522 8307 psi Shearing Strength 1425 psi Stiffness 1385 1604 1000 psi Weight 36 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 633 988 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 388 584 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 100 kg/cm2 Stiffness 97 112 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 576 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. 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 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1955,Sifou-Sifou (Albizzia ferruginea,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.41, p54 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 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Fernando, X.M.,1956,Notes on Ceylon Timbers,Ceylon Forester (N.S.,2(3,pp131-8 Fouarge, J.,1950,Appropriation de Bois Congolais aux Besoins de la Metropole,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.38 Fouarge, J.,1953,Bois du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France France - C.T.F.T.,1965,Sifou-Sifou,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique,No.137 Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38 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 Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13