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Species-Products |
Ekki/Azobe
Lophira alata
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Family: Ochnaceae
Other Common Names: Bongossi, Bakundu (Cameroon), Kaku (Ghana), Esore (Ivory Coast). Aba (Nigeria), Endwi (SierrraLeone).
Distribution: West Africa and extending into the Congo Basin; occurs in evergreen and moist deciduous forests, in freshwater swamp forests, and close to riverbanks.
The Tree May attain a height of 160 ft with a long clear bole to 100 ft; trunk diameters 5 to 6 ft; without buttresses but lower portion of the bole sometimes swollen.
The Wood General Characteristics: Heartwood dark red, chocolate brown, or purple brown with conspicuous white deposits in the vessels; sapwood up to 2 in. wide, pale ping, well defined. Texture coarse; grain usually interlocked; luster low; without characteristic odor or taste.
Weight: Basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) about 0.90; air-dry density 70 pcf.
Mechanical Properties: (2-cm standard.)
Moisture content |
Bending strength |
Modulus of elasticity |
Maximum crushing strength |
Psi |
1,000 Psi |
Psi |
|
Green (9) |
17,800 |
2,010 |
9,920 |
12% |
25,800 |
2,450 |
13,120 |
12% (47) |
33,200 |
3,180 |
15,200 |
Janka side hardness 2,900 lb. for green material and 3,350 lb. For dry. Amsler toughness 625 in.-lb. at 12% moisture content (2-cm specimen).
Drying and Shrinkage: Very difficult to season without excessive degrade, particularly surface and end checking; dries slowly. Kiln schedule T2-C2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T2-C1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to oven-dry: radial 8.4%; tangential 11.0%; volumetric 17.0%. Movement in service is rated as medium.
Working Properties: Very difficult to work with hand and machine tools; severe blunting effect if machined when dry; can be dressed to a smooth finish; gluing properties usually good.
Durability: Heartwood is rated as very durable but only moderately resistant to termite attack. Resistant to acids. Good weathering properties. Resistant to teredo attack.
Preservation: Heartwood is rated as extremely resistant to preservative treatments and the sapwood resistant.
Uses: Heavy durable construction work, harbor work, heavy-duty flooring, parquet flooring, railroad crossties.
Source: Tropical Timbers of the World, U.S. Forest Products Laboratory.
S P E C I E S
Greenheart / Purpleheart / Mora / Wallaba
Jatoba / Kabukalli / Determa / Basralocus
Silverballi / Tatabu / Snakewood
Azobe'-Ekki
Greenheart Forest Products, Inc.
81 STONE AVE
CAMPBELLVILLE
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA
Tel: +592-227-0549
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