Neem (Melia indica)
Family: Meliaceae
Common names: Agas, Arya-veppu, Azad -darackht, Azad-darakht, Bal-nimb, Betain, Bevina, Bevu, Kai-bevu, Kohomba, Kohumba, Limb, Limbo, Maranggo, Margosa tree, Neem, Nim, Nimbay, Nimuri, Olle-bevu, Paraiso de la India, Sedyappa, Tama, Tamaka, Taruka, Vembu, Vempu, Venpa, Vepa, Veppam, Veppu, Yapa, Yepa
Distributed in: Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Vanuatu (Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The natural growth range of the species includes the dry forests of Burma\
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Planks, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rafters, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Shakes, Shingles, Siding, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural work, Tables , Tool handles, Toys, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Wardrobes
Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Tree height is 30-40 m
Colors: the heart isRed, Reddish brownand the sapwoodWell defined, White to yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Susceptible to insect attack
Odor: No odor, generally.
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Kiln Drying Rate: Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Distortion, Internal Honeycombing Possible
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory
Blunting Effect: Blunting effect on machining is slight
Boring: Easy
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Easy to glue
Mortising: Good mortising properties
Moulding: Good moulding properties
Movement in Service: Good moulding properties
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Planes well, to a good finish
Planing is easy and can yield smooth surfaces, but patches of interlocked grain may cause fuzziness.
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Moderate working qualities
Routing recessing: Routing is easy
Turning: Turns to smooth finish free of chipping at fine edges
Painting: Satisfactory; Polishing: Poor; Staining: Staining is usually excellent
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,63 |
0,7 |
|
Density |
|
769 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
669 |
971 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
85 |
115 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
779 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
121 |
109 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
142 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
84 |
98 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
769 |
753 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,7 |
0,91 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
378 |
431 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 9528 | 13818 | psi | Crushing Strength | 1215 | 1646 | psi | Density | | 48 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1719 | lbs | Impact Strength | 48 | 43 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 5237 | 7423 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2020 | psi | Static Bending | 5390 | 6135 | psi | Stiffness | 1199 | 1395 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 10 | 13 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.63 | 0.7 | | Weight | 48 | 47 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | | % | |
Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impace Strength) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Weight = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Resists denting and marring Hardness = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high
Betancourt, A.,1972,Paraiso de la India (Azadirachta indica Juss) desarrollo alcanzado en Cuba,por dicha especie,Revista Forestal Baracoa 2(3-4) pp17-23Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building ResearchBourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government PressChudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Jain, V.K.; Arora, K.L.; and Sharma, A.K.,1993,A Note on the Movement of some Indian Timbers,The Indian Forester Vol.119 No.11, pp.936-939Limaye, V.D.1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 2, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 4, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.McCann, C.,1947,Trees of India: A Popular Handbook,D.B.Taraporevala Sons & Co. BombayNazma,1981,A handbook of Kerala Timbers,Kerala Forest Research Institute Research Report, No.9Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 volsRadwanski, S.,1977,Neem Tree 2,World Crops and Livestock 1977 29(3) pp111-3Rawat, B. S., Rawat, N. S., Sekhar, A. C., Bhatnager, S. S. 1957. Physical and Mechanical Properties of Timbers Tested at the Forest Research Institute,Report XI.Indian Forest Records, Timber Mechanics Branch,Volume 1 No. 12, Dehra Dun, India.Rawat, B.S., Rawat, N.S.,1960,Physical and Mechanical properties of woods tested at the Forest Research,Institute, Dehra Dun Report XI,Indian Forestry Records (NS) Timber Mechanics 1(12)Sekhar, A.C. 1955. Working Qualities of Some Indian Timbers.Indian Forest Bulletin No. 194 (New Series, Timber Mechanics. Reprinted from The Indian Forester, Vol. 81, No. 11, Pages 724-732. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India.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. 7Troup, R.S. 1909. Indian Woods and Their Uses, The Indian Forest Memoirs, Economic Products Series, Vol. 1, No. 1. Superintendent Government Printing, Calcutta, India.Yoji Kikata (ed.,1991,The promotion of Lesser-known Species and Plantation-grown species,Proceedings of the International Forest Products Workshop, 14 to 15,October, 1991, Nagoya University, Japan
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