Akatio

Origin: West Africa.

Latin name.
Gambeya africana Pierre and others Gambeya sp. p .

Natural vegetation area.
Humid forests of the equatorial area crossing Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast, down to Zaire, and the African Great Lakes area and Ethiopia.

TRUNK CHARACTERISTICS.
The tree reaches considerable sizes, i.e. heights up to 40 - 50 metres; the trunk features deep base grooves, sometimes extending several metres about the ground; above them, the diameter can also exceed 1.60 m; the middle and top parts of the trunk are straight and regular.

WOOD APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.
There is a slight difference between the whitish or more rarely citrine yellow sapwood and the greyish or reddish heartwood. Presence of very small mineral particles within the cells.

Specific weight.
In the fresh condition 1,000 kg/m³ on average; after normal seasoning 730 kg/m³.

Histological structure.
Mostly fine texture; generally straight, rarely wavy grain.

Shrinkage.
From medium to high.

Mechanical characteristics.
Compression strength 65 N/mm²; bending strength 140 N/mm². Medium hardness and fair impact behaviour.

Modulus of elasticity.
12,000 N/mm²

Most frequent structural defects and alteration.
High internal stresses; presence of very fine mineral particles in the texture; discolouration already in the standing trees.

Durability.
Moderate. Good for the heartwood.

 

Texts taken from: “Manuale tecnico del legno”, FNALA CNA LEGNO LEGNO, by Prof. Ing. Guglielmo Giordano.

 

Species available for the following products: