Scientific name

Hymenaea spp

Other names

English: Jatoba, Courbaril

Geographic origin

South America, the Caribbean and the West Indies

Description

&;8226; Sapwood: Pink white.
&;8226; Heartwood: Pink grey to reddish grey.
&;8226; Fiber: Straight, occasionally slightly intertwined.
&;8226; Grain: Thin to medium size
&;8226; Characteristic defects: Growth tensions and petrean inlays

Capacity of being impregnated

&;8226; Sapwood: Medium capacity of being impregnated
&;8226; Heartwood: Low capacity of being impregnated

Mechanization

&;8226; Sawing process: ordinary difficulties arise from hardness and low abrasability
&;8226; Drying process: Medium to high speed. Low risk of deformation and crack formation.
&;8226; Planing process: Difficulties due to hardness, abrasability and risk of repelling on pieces of intertwined fibers. Slow mechanisation is recommended
&;8226; Gluing process: Tannins hamper proper adherence
&;8226; Nailing and screwing process: pre-drilling is recommended due to hardness
&;8226; Finish: no particular problems arise

Physical properties

&;8226; Apparent density at 12% humidity
950 kg/m3 very heavy wood
&;8226; Dimensional stability
- Volumetric contraction coefficient
0.43 % variation from stable wood to nervous wood
- Relation between contractions
1.9% tendency to deformity
&;8226; Hardness (Chaláis-Meudon) 8.5 very hard wood

Mechanical properties

&;8226; Resistance to static flexion 1,338 kg/cm2 &;8226; Elasticity module 180,000 kg/cm2
&;8226; Resistance to compression 750 kg/cm2