Scientific name

Tectona grandis L. F.

Other names

English: Teak

Geographic origin

Southeast Asia, India, Camboya and Vietnam. Introduced in the tropical regions of western America.

Description

''&;8226; Sapwood: Yellowish white colour to greyish colour.
&;8226; Heartwood: from yellowish brown to dark brown with frequent dark grey shades.
&;8226; Fiber: Straight.
&;8226; Grain: medium size to rough.
&;8226; Defects: ''''greasy wood'''' with silica and chalky deposits
''

Capacity of being impregnated

Sapwood: Low capacity of being impregnated
Heartwood: No capable of being impregnated

Mechanization

&;8226; Sawing process: problems arise from the high silica content that wears away tools very fast and produces allergy to workers.
&;8226; Drying process: From low to very low speed. Little risk of deformation and crack formation.
&;8226; Planing process: Ordinary difficulties due to the hardness. Good bending
&;8226; Gluing process: Important difficulties due to its oleoresins content, above all when using alkaline glues.
&;8226; Nailing and screwing process: Pre-drilling is required
&;8226; Finish: Diffciulties described in the gluing process

Physical properties

&;8226; Apparent density at 12% humidity
0.69 kg/m3 semiheavy to heavy wood
&;8226; Dimensional stability
&;8226; Volumetric contraction coefficient
0.33 % highly stable wood.
&;8226; Relation between contractions
1.88 tendency to deformity
&;8226; Hardness (Chaláis-Meudon)
4.1 semi-hardwood

Mechanical properties

&;8226; Resistance to static flexion
1,020 kg/cm3
&;8226; Elasticity module
110,000 kg/cm3
&;8226; Resistance to compression
630 kg/cm3