 
Ilomba (Pycnanthus angolensis)
Family: Myristicaceae
Common names: Abora, Adre, Adria, African nutmeg, Akomu, Anakue, Antenli, Anwor, Atenli, Bakondo, Bali, Bassa, Bemba, Bokondo, Bokongo, Bosambe, Bosenga, Boxboard, Boyei, Calabo, Cardboard, Cardwood, Dean, Denke, Diehn, Dihin, Dihn, Edna, Edua, Effoi, Ekom, Entro, Escamba, Etama, Etan, Etang, Eteng, Etienh, Etsi, Etsiw, Etsu, Gboyei, Hetere, Ilomba, Kiang, Kombo, Komo, Kpokogi, Kpoyei, Kpoyej, Kuurul, Lamba, Lifondo, Llombo, Lolako, Lomba, Lunaba, Lusenga, Moghan, Moulomba, Mukagato, Mulomba, Munaba, Muno, Mutuje, N'kombo, N'laomba, Nesamba, Netere, Ngitsa, Ngosame, Nigerian boxwood, Obala, Omachan, Ongano, Ote, Oti, Otie, Oualele, Pitchong, Pomponi, Pycnanthus, Qualele, Senga, Tamarkwa, Teke, Ten, Teng, Tian, Tidea, Tika, Tshilombe, Tshimbbuku, Walehe, Walele, Walfle, Whismore, White cedar
Distributed in: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda (Africa)
Distribution overview: The natural range of the species extends from Guinea to Uganda and Angola in Africa. It grows in lowland forests, and is especially abundant in secondary forests.
Common uses: Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Model airplanes, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stools, Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes
Product sources: The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber which is exported frequently.
Environment profile: Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Tree size: Tree height is 20-30 m
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodRed, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMediumand the lusterNon-lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to termite attack, Very little natural resistance to decay in ground contact
Odor:
Freshly-Milled wood has unpleasant odor which disappears upon drying
Kiln Schedules: US=T3-C2/T3-C1
Drying Defects: Severe end splitting, Severe twisting/warping
Ease of Drying: Thicker stock is difficult to dry
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood may split under frost conditions
Blunting Effect: Slight bluting effect on cutting tools
Boring: Good results
Carving: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Quickly
Gluing: Good properties
Mortising: Responds well to machine tools in mortising operations
Moulding: Good moulding properties
Movement in Service: Good moulding properties
Nailing: Good nailing properties, Holds nails well
Planing: good
Resistance to Impregnation: Permeable
Response to hand tools: Works readily with hand tools
Routing recessing: Mortises readily to yield clean surfaces
Sanding: Good sanding finish
Veneering qualities: Suitable for peeling, Suitable for slicing
Screwing: Good screwing properties, Screwing yields good results; Turning: Responds well to ordinary machine tools in moulding operations
Painting: Good; Polishing: Well defined ; Staining: Reacts with Iron to discolour wood; Varnishing: Good;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,39 |
|
|
Density |
|
480 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
487 |
736 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
238 |
395 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
339 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
85 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
84 |
93 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
576 |
480 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 6933 | 10474 | psi | Density | | 30 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 749 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3394 | 5626 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1214 | psi | Stiffness | 1196 | 1328 | 1000 psi | Specific Gravity | 0.39 | | | Weight | 36 | 30 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Max. crushing strength = medium 0 Bending strength (MOR) = low 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Weight = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Air-Dried condition about 12% moisture content
Bending strength is lower than Mahogany, and much lower than White oak.
It is weaker than Mahogany or Teak
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