Scientific Name
Dialium dinklagei
Trade Name
Eyoum
Family Name
Leguminosae
Common Names
Afambeou, Dina, Eyoum, Eyum, Kerandji, Keranji, Khleng, Kralanh, Xoay
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo
Common Uses
Crossties, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Handles, Medicinal use, Parquet flooring, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Turnery
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
West Africa, extending from Guinea to Gabon to the Congo; sometimes in marshy places.
Heartwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Black |
Same as sapwood
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable |
The heartwood has high natural resistance to decay
Odor
| No specific taste | ||||||||||||
| May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green |
Silica Content
| Highly siliceous |
Resin Content
| Contains resin |
Toxicity
| Respiratory effects | ||||||||||||
| Dermatitic effects |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Checking |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Requires special attention | ||||||||||||
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Dries slowly |
Quartersawn material dries more easily and degrades less
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
Tree Size
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
The bark and leaves of the tree are used locally for medicinal purposes
Blunting Effect
| Little | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
The wood tends to dull tool edges severely and rapidly
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to good results |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Moderate to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory gluing properties | ||||||||||||
| Moderate gluing properties |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Movement in Service
| Stability is rated as medium |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
The timber is reported to yield smooth surfaces, but it is difficult to work with ordinary tools
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is very resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good Sanding Properties |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Possible if prebored | ||||||||||||
| Good screw holding properties |
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Veneering Qualities
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| No drying degrade | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for slicing |
Polishing
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Tangenital =moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = very high | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) =53-60 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 14895 | 18769 | psi |
| Density | 55 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 8467 | 10774 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1667 | 2052 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.65 | ||
| Weight | 53 | 43 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 1047 | 1319 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 881 | kg/m3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 595 | 757 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 117 | 144 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.65 | ||
| Weight | 849 | 689 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | % |
References
Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers – the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research
Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.