Iroko

Origin: Gabon.

Latin name.
Chloropha excelsa Benth. & Hook. f., C regia A. Chev.

Natural vegetation area.
Equatorial forests of the Countries around the Gulf of Guinea; the second species mentioned grows in the eastern area, from Ethiopia to Mozambique.

TRUNK CHARACTERISTICS.
The tree can be very big, with height up to 50 metres and diameter sometimes greater than 1.80 metres. The trunk is straight, with regular cross-section and small basal buttresses, which allows to obtain usable trunks with good lengths.

WOOD APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.
The thick yellowish/whitish sapwood can be clearly distinguished from the heartwood, whose main colour is yellow rich in golden and sometimes dark brown shades.

Specific weight.
In the fresh condition 1,000 kg/m³ on average; after normal seasoning 660 kg/m³ .

Histological structure.
Texture from medium to coarse; grain not always regular, which can create nice iridescent reflections on the longitudinal sections.

Shrinkage.
Moderate. It is a rather stable wood.

Mechanical characteristics.
Axial compression strength 55 N/mm² on average; bending strength 115 N/mm²; hardness from medium to high; the impact behaviour is mediocre.

Modulus of elasticity.
9.800 N/mm²

Most frequent structural defects and alteration.
Apart from the already mentioned grain irregularity, it is worthwhile pointing out the frequency of limestone formations in the trunks, which are not always identifiable from the material external appearance: said formations can easily cause the breakage of working tools.

Durability.
Since the sapwood is often subject to fungal and insect attack, it is removed from the trunk before shipment. The heartwood, on the other hand, features good resistance to all causes for alteration and decay, whether they are due to organisms or to the contact with chemical products.

 

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

 

Species available for the following products: