Emien (Alstonia congensis)
Family: Apocynaceae
Common names: Adawera, Adawra, Ahun, Alstonia, Awen, Bakunin, Bantang foro, Basong, Binu, Bokuk, Bokuka, Cheese wood, Dita, Dnyame-dua, Dsen-nuru, Duku, Ebo, Ebwe, Ekouk, Emee, Emenle, Emien, Kaiwi, Kanja, Kauwi, Kigima, Koloweli, Kuge, Lomba, Mergalang, Milkwood, Milky pine, Mo cua, Mogoliga, Mogvga, Mujua, Mujwa, Mukoge, Musoga, N'songuti, Nsiwa, Nyamelebaka, Nyemidua, Omujwe, Onguie, Patternwood, Pulai, Senedur, Shaitan wood, Sindru, Stolwood, Stoolwood, Sundra, Tsongoti, Tsongutti, Uguwa, Vhu, White cheesewood, Wokuka, Yung
Distributed in: Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire (Africa)
Distribution overview: Widely distributed throughout West and Central Africa; abundant in humid forests of the Cameroons.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Baskets, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Woodwork
Environment profile: Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions.
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow to golden-yellow to orange, Yellowish whiteand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack, Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles
Odor: No specific smell or taste
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: Uk=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
Kiln Drying Rate: Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Reconditioning Treatement
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is misshapen
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Latex Content - Large slit-like radial canals, which are usually found at intervals of 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) and which may adversely affect the appearance of the wood usually contain traces of latex. Latex is reported to remain in liquid form for long periods of time and may even be detected in sawing wood that was processed years ago.
Blunting Effect: There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools
Boring: Moderately easy
Carving: Very good results
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Moderate gluing properties
Mortising: Finishes satisfactorily
Nailing: Satisfactory nailing properties, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Sharp surfaces are required
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Responds well to hand tools
Steam bending: Unsuitable
Screwing: Recommend pre-boring, Screwing yields satisfactory results; Turning: Satisfactory
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,26 |
|
|
Density |
|
400 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
378 |
578 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
207 |
336 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
166 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
40 |
38 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
65 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
70 |
80 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
400 |
400 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,35 |
0,49 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 5382 | 8221 | psi | Density | | 25 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 367 | lbs | Impact Strength | 16 | 15 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2950 | 4789 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 930 | psi | Stiffness | 1007 | 1147 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 5 | 7 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.26 | | | Weight | 25 | 25 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Bending strength (MOR) = low 0 Hardness (side grain) = very soft 0 Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very low Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium
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