Merbau (Intsia palembanica)
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Common names: Aizella, Anglai, Borneo teak, Go nuoe, Hintsy, Ipil, Kwila, Lum-pho, Lumpha, Lumpho, Makhamong, Marbau, Merbau, Miraboo, Miraboo laut, Mirabow, Tat talun, Tat-talun, V'ula, Vesi
Distributed in: Australia, Burma, Fiji [Polynesia], India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The two very closely related species are widely distributed throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Solomons, Vanuatu). The resource is not large, but international demand for the timber is high.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes
Environment profile: Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range
Tree size: Tree height is 50-60 m
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterVariable luster
Natural durability: Susceptible to marine borer attack, Very durable
Odor: Characteristic odor, easily detectable when worked.
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is fluted
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good The timber of Merbau is comparable in strength to that of hickory (Carya ), but it is less dense
Blunting Effect: Severe effect
Boring: Severe dulling effect on cutting edges
Carving: Good carving properties
Cutting Resistance: Saw teeth are gummed up easily and dulled quickly
Gluing: Easy to glue
The wood is reported to glue well (except with casein glues) but requires considerable filling. Oily surfaces may cause difficulties.
Mortising: Finishes well
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
Nailing: Pre-boring recommended, Tends to split during nailing
Planing: Planes well, to a good finish
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is resistant
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Variable qualities
Routing recessing: Good routing properties
Sanding: Satisfactory sanding properties
Veneering qualities: Good gluing qualities, No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Steam bending: Poor because of oil exudations
Screwing: Difficult to screw, Good screw holding properties; Turning: Severe blunting effect on cutting edges because of interlocked grain and silica content
Painting: Takes paint well ; Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract; Varnishing: Takes varnish well
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,63 |
0,65 |
|
Density |
|
785 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
774 |
1093 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
64 |
91 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
750 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
91 |
98 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
126 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
137 |
154 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
865 |
769 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,91 |
1,05 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
412 |
604 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 11015 | 15558 | psi | Crushing Strength | 911 | 1303 | psi | Density | | 49 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1654 | lbs | Impact Strength | 36 | 39 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 6189 | 8442 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1802 | psi | Static Bending | 5870 | 8604 | psi | Stiffness | 1950 | 2199 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 13 | 15 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.63 | 0.65 | | Weight | 54 | 48 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = very small 0 Shrinkage, Radial = very small 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium 1 Hardness (side grain) = medium 1 Max. crushing strength = high 0 Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
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