Scientific Name
Erythrophleum ivorense
Trade Name
Aba
Family Name
Leguminosae
Synonyms
Erythrophleum micranthum
Common Names
Aba, Aloe, Alui, Amerere, Apotoro-dom, Atsa, Duo tsho, Elondo, Elone, Eloun, Eringi, Erue-alui, Erun, Etsa, Gogbei, Gogwi, Ihi, Kassa, Kokudabo, Mancone, Missanda, Muave, Mwavi, Nkassa, Odang bole, Odom, Ordeal tree, Potrodom, Sasswood, Sasswood tree, Sepehi, Tali, Tsa
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown |
Sapwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Well defined | ||||||||||||
| Paler than heartwood |
Grain
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Luster
| Low | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack |
Silica Content
| High |
Light-Induced Color Change
| None |
Toxicity
| Unspecified toxicity | ||||||||||||
| Respiratory effects |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight end splitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate end spitting |
Drying degrade due to spring and bow tends to be moderate
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is misshapen |
Tree Size
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult | ||||||||||||
| Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable |
Gluing
| Easy to glue | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to glue |
Mortising
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Moulding
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Movement in Service
| Small |
Nailing
| Difficult to nail | ||||||||||||
| Possible if prebored |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to plane | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is highly resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Poorly | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Sanding
| Easy to sand | ||||||||||||
| Good sanding finish |
Screwing
| Possible if prebored | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to screw |
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn | ||||||||||||
| Turns with moderate ease |
Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for slicing | ||||||||||||
| Diifficult to veneer | ||||||||||||
| Bolt preparation requires steaming |
Painting
| Satisfactory results |
Polishing
| Satisfactory results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Varnishing
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = hard | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = very high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 15280 | 22556 | psi |
| Density | 55 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 2801 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 7526 | 10673 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1418 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 2002 | 2306 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 54 | 43 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 1074 | 1585 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 881 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 1270 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 529 | 750 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 99 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 140 | 162 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 865 | 689 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % |
References
Bentum, A.L.K.,1971,Properties of Ghanaian Timbers – Potrodom,Technical Newsletter Ghana,5(3/4, pp38-9
Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1949,Olon (Fagara heitzii and Fagara brieyi,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.10,pp175-8
Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1949,Tali (Erythropleum ivorense and E. guineense,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.9,pp67-70
Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1977,Tali (Erythrophleum ivorense and Erythrophleum guineese,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.176,pp17-31
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
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies
Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department
Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO
Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38
France – C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au C.T.F.T. sur,Erythrophleum sp.,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique, No.120
France – C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers – New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets
Ghana – Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board
Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data
Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London
Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast
Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159
Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London
Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23
Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.
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. 7
Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]
Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London
Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13