The hardest tree in African forests. The hardest wood species: properties of wood, secrets of application. The hardest woods
iron trees
Ironwood is a very heavy wood that sinks quickly in water. The density of ironwood wood is significantly higher than the density of water, and therefore it sinks. The bark of an iron tree is very thin and breaks easily. If the branches of neighboring trees touch each other, they quickly grow together, creating interesting plexuses. From Latin, the iron tree is translated as "the tree of life", because it is famous for its famous healing properties and the ability to heal many ailments.
In different regions, "iron tree" means different plants:
Temir-agach
1. Temir-agach (damiragach) or "iron tree" - grows in Iran and Azerbaijan and surpasses iron in hardness. Temir-agach is quite often used in the manufacture of living barriers, which become stronger and stronger every year. It is impossible to get through a thicket of such trees, because the trunk of an iron tree is completely devoid of flexibility.
2. Persian parrotia is one of the most durable iron trees. It grows in the Transcaucasian and Northern Iranian forests. Suitable for the production of machine parts and art products.
Wooden nails
3. Yew (Taxus), or "non-pus-tree". This iron tree has not only strong wood, but also almost does not rot. Nails were made from it, used in the construction of underground and underwater structures.
4. Azobe is a tropical African iron tree.
5. Amazonian tree - Brazilian iron tree.
Metal replacement
6. Schmidt's birch - grows in the southern part of the Primorsky Territory in the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve. The wood of this birch is 1.5 times stronger than cast iron and may well replace metal. The life expectancy of the Schmidt birch is about 400 years, like no other birch on the planet.
7. Also rosewood (or rosewood), ebony, kumaru.
Each of these trees has very strong wood, enriched with oils, the bark of such trees is resistant to decay, and they are all heavier than water. A good boat will not work out of such wood, but for the manufacture of furniture it is one of the best materials, however, and the most expensive.
In the fields of construction and production, traditional consumables are being replaced by high-tech plastics in various designs. They are distinguished by high technical and physical qualities, which allows them to confidently replace both wood and even metal. However, wood raw materials have many advantages due to the low cost of purchase and environmental friendliness. Strength is considered the weak point of this material. To increase this indicator, manufacturers use special processing methods to increase rigidity, density and, in general, resistance to mechanical damage. However, solid wood species initially have these properties, often eliminating the need for special heat treatments.
Hardwood Features
Typically, the quality of such rocks is evaluated by three indicators - density, Brinell hardness and cross-cut stiffness. On average, the density of such wood is about 1200-1400 kg/m 3 . As for the hardness according to Brinell, this value can reach 3.5 kgf / mm 2, and the rigidity of the transverse cut is 80 MPa. Again, these figures are typical for trees familiar to Russian conditions, and exotic species may have significantly superior characteristics. What types of wood are hardwoods in the temperate zone? Usually isolated oak, beech, ash and some types of hornbeam. It is important to consider that along with the positive quality in the form of hardness, such trees also differ in negative properties. It has already been said that in order to improve the performance, lumber can be subjected to additional processing. Sometimes solid wood is also subjected to similar operations to obtain special physical characteristics. And here a serious problem manifests itself, since many rocks, due to their high density, cannot stand the processes of grinding, impregnation, and especially drying. Often cracks, chips and other manifestations of structural deformation are formed.
Hardwood classifications
Allocate species that grow in the temperate zone, and exotic trees. There is also a classification into deciduous and coniferous species. Although most hardwoods are still deciduous, among the needles there are also varieties with increased density and stiffness characteristics. As for the rocks of the temperate zone, they include maple, boxwood, briar and the mentioned hornbeam. Coniferous hardwoods are also the most common here. Which of them has the most pronounced indicators of hardness? In this case, larch, yew, juniper and lawson deserve attention. There are also hardwoods among the usual fruit trees - in this category forest apple, oxalis, pear, mountain ash and some types of walnut stand out. As for exotic rocks, they demonstrate the highest rates of hardness and density. Here, red and lemon eucalyptus, etc., are of particular interest. Now it is worth considering in more detail the hardest tree species.
Red tree
In Russia, this breed is the most popular, as it can be purchased on a free sale. This is a tropical tree, which is characterized by high hardness, as well as the original texture on the cut. Freshly sawn wood has a yellowish-red hue, but over time it is replaced by darker tones, which gives the material nobility. Accordingly, the consumer appreciates not only the technical, but also the decorative properties of this tree. It should be noted that from the point of view of pronounced decorative qualities, backout and boxwood also belong to hardwoods. Moreover, these rocks are used not only as finishing materials, but can also replace individual decorative details in jewelry and technical devices. But mahogany is also distinguished by ease of machining. The density of this rock is not so high compared to many solid materials of tropical origin, so this raw material is in great demand in furniture factories.
iron tree
If heavy-duty plastics can replace iron due to their strength, then this rock is not only able to take the place of an element resistant to mechanical stress in some areas, but at the same time meet increased requirements in terms of environmental resistance. The concept of an iron tree includes a whole group of species that mainly grow in the countries of the Asian region and in Australia. The classic representative of the group is the Persian parrotia. This species is common in relic forests, where local residents have been making handles for knives and axes from it since ancient times. Today, the "iron" wood of hardwoods is under the protection of UNESCO. This breed, in particular, has an aesthetic value, which causes great interest in it from the market.
Merbau
This is not the hardest, but in terms of other operational qualities, one might say, the most practical breed. Previously used in the construction of marine vessels. This is due to the fact that the material is resistant to moisture and also does not dry out. Therefore, merbau can be stored for a long time, after which it can be subjected to heat treatments and used in construction. As already noted, hardwood trees, like hornbeam or beech, practically do not tolerate additional processing. But merbau steadfastly endures traditional methods of influence in order to improve individual performance.
white locust
The hardest rock in Russia, which is valued not only for its strength, but also for its resistance to biological destruction processes. In addition, this type of acacia is well polished and does not crack during long-term operation. Subject to preventive treatment measures, wood is also not subjected to minor mechanical damage. By the way, in terms of technical characteristics, this type is superior to such hardwoods as oak and ash.
Lignum vitae
The hardness index of this tree is one of the highest in the world. Suffice it to say that the material optimally copes with its tasks when used in the form of bearings, bushings and brackets. In the navy, the wood of this species was often used as deck material. But as lumber, backout is valued for other reasons. It does not lend itself to deforming processes under the influence of third-party negative factors. These can be both chemical and physical influences that do not have a destructive effect on the structure. There are other hardwoods that also show resistance to extreme loads. But the unique quality of the backout is a balanced combination of large mass and density.
The use of hardwood
Most of this material is used in construction. Wood in one form or another can be used as a basis for structures, and as a finish. Separate breeds are also used in the fields of mechanical engineering and instrumentation. Of these, separate functional elements are made with the expectation of long-term use - and these can be both temporary consumables and durable parts of structures. These are the main, but not all, areas in which high-strength wood species are used. Soft, hard rocks, as well as those with average density values, can also be used for medical purposes. In this case, hardness is not so important. The fact is that many exotic breeds contain resins that are unique in their qualities. The preparation of therapeutic mixtures for internal and external use, in particular, allows you to deal with diseases of the joints, respiratory organs, etc.
Conclusion
Manufacturers of building materials are well aware of the rule that the improvement of one technical and operational property almost always entails the minimization of other qualities. In part, this law also applies to hardwoods, which, according to some characteristics, lose to softwoods. The processes of biological destruction, physical deformation, as well as texture distortion are the main disadvantages of soft rocks used in the long term. But on the other hand, such wood has the advantage of being susceptible to additional treatments. Of course, there are exceptions in both categories, but the soft structure, due to its low density, is still more inclined to form new properties artificially.
The most durable trees in the world
Today, the hardness of a tree is determined using several methods. There are density ratings for all trees. Based on the hardness, they determine where and what kind of wood to use.
The hardest woods
According to the obtained hardness data, a list of the hardest trees has been compiled. It entered white acacia. This tree grows in large quantities in Europe, anywhere from North America.
brazilian cherry, scientifically called jatoba, is in second place in terms of hardness. It should be noted that this tree has nothing in common with plants of the genus "cherry". Sucupira grows in South America. Its wood is not only practical, but also decorative, as it has interspersed light veins that contrast with the reddish-brown wood. It is known that fungi and pests of sucupire are not terrible. Despite the fact that wood is difficult to process, it is well polished.
There is such wood from the category of hard, like African turbidity. It is unusual that in structure it is similar to teak, and in color it resembles walnut. There is a tree in Central America amaranth, which has a dense, but flexible wood, which has a red-violet hue and a large expressive structure. Amaranth is difficult to process and varnish; there, no less than single accessories and expensive furniture are made from its wood.
Merbay- Another type of solid wood. It is easy to process, easy to polish and resistant to moisture. These properties make it ideal for the production of parquet, bathroom decoration. The well-known Canadian maple growing in North America is also called sugar maple. This hard tree is the symbol of Canada.
Yarra- Australian eucalyptus. Due to the similarity of its wood with mahogany, the tree is also called Australian mahogany. Rosewood is considered solid wood. His homeland is Brazil. It is an indispensable material for the manufacture of musical instruments and furniture for presentable objects.
Next on the list is ash with very hard wood, behind him - oak, with heavy and durable wood. It cannot be said about bouquet. The properties of its wood allow it to be widely used.
The hardest tree in Russia
Russia is rich in forests. Birch Schmidt- a resident of the Kedrovaya Pad reserve, located in Primorye, is the hardest in the country. This birch is one of the representatives of the so-called iron trees. Due to the extremely hard wood, bullets bounce off it, it instantly sinks in water, has the property of self-preservation, does not rot and is stronger than cast iron. It is believed that bearings for machines can be made from this tree..
The birch got its name in honor of the botanist who discovered it by the name of Schmidt. This tree grows along the slopes of ravines at the exit of rocks, as it loves stony soil. The birch always has an inclined state of the trunk. Usually it is comb-shaped and does not exceed eighty centimeters in girth. Iron birch reaches a height of twenty-five meters, but the crown begins only at a height of eight meters. These trees are considered long-lived. On average, the Schmidt birch lives about three hundred and fifty years.
What is hardwood made of?
Hardwoods are used in many areas, depending on the species. So from the Brazilian cherry, which is called jatoba, canes, billiard cues, furniture, parquet are made. But in shipbuilding, this wood is not used, as it deteriorates in sea water.
Acacia wood has a yellow tint. She was known even to cabinetmakers, as she does not rot and does not wear out. Acacia wood is used to make parquet, which is considered stronger than oak, and over the years it becomes more beautiful.
Marbau wood, due to its increased hardness, is used during the construction of public buildings, and parquet is also made from it. It is used in the design of wet rooms, as it is not afraid of water.
Previously, not only hunting tools were made from durable ash wood, but also military weapons, spears and clubs were made. Beech wood is known to bend easily when steamed. This property is indispensable in the manufacture of rounded furniture, including Viennese chairs. Beech is used to produce rifle butts, weaving shuttles and even musical instruments. In addition, plywood and containers are made from beech, beech parquet and measuring instruments are known.
The tree with the strongest wood
It is reliably known that the most durable, in other words, “iron” wood, is in trees, which are called “iron trees”. It is so strong that sometimes it exceeds iron in this indicator. Even nails and machine parts can be made from it. There are several such types of trees and they grow in different parts of the planet. Here are some examples of these miracle trees.
Birch Schmidt, whose wood is one and a half times stronger than cast iron, grows in Primorsky Krai, another owner of iron wood grows in Brazil - this amazonian tree, in Africa such a representative is called azobe. Taxus (or yew) also belongs to iron trees, it is absolutely not subject to rotting, it is also called "non-pus-tree". Azerbaijan and Iran - the birthplace of an iron tree called temir-agach, and in the Northern Irish and Transcaucasian forests grows Persian parrotia.
Trees are champions not only in strength, but also in size. According to some reports, the largest tree in the world has reached a height of more than 150 meters.
Illustration:
The hardness of wood depends mainly on the type of wood. In this article, we will look at different types of wood and find out which wood is harder than others.
The hardness of wood products is their ability to resist the introduction of harder bodies, for example, nails, self-tapping screws.
The hardness of wood varies in different cut directions. There are such types of hardness:
- end. This type of hardness is determined by indenting a metal rod which has a hemispherical end with a diameter of 11.28 mm. The rod is pressed to a depth of radius 5.64 mm gradually over 2 minutes. The imprint size is 1 square centimeter and therefore hardness is measured in kg/cm2
- radial
- tangential.
Lateral hardness in coniferous timber varieties, most often, is 40% lower than the end hardness, and in hardwood varieties, by about 30%. The tangential type of hardness, for example, oak, beech or elm timber is almost 5-10% higher than the end type. Most types of wood have approximately the same tangential and radial hardness.
In order to create a high quality product from wood, it is necessary to determine the hardness of the type of wood used. The most commonly used method for determining hardness is the Brinell method. The meaning of this method is to press a metal ball with a diameter of 10 mm into the surface of the workpiece with a force of 100 kg. According to the type of deformation and the diameter of the resulting depression, the value of hardness is determined.
In addition, experienced craftsmen must take into account changes in hardness that can occur while working with workpieces. For example, the hardness index of timber varies depending on the type of its cut.
The hardest wood is the jatoba tree, which grows in the tropical rainforests of South and Central America. The hardness of the wood of this tree is 7 points on the Brinell scale. Timber is quite light, with a grayish sapwood. In this case, the core is colored red, red-brown or dark orange. The cut of the trunk becomes darker for 6-7 days, after which it acquires a brick-red color. The tree grows up to 40 meters in height. Timber is used to create furniture, parquet, as well as decorative elements of interior decoration.
The second place in the hardness rating is sucupira. She has a hardness index of 5.6 points. This tree grows exclusively in the Amazon rainforest. An adult tree has a height of about 30 meters. In the center of the trunk is red-brown "dull" wood. Towards the edges, the wood brightens and becomes whitish. When sawing, yellow stripes of parenchymal matter are clearly distinguished. The texture of such timber is quite peculiar. Due to the large amount of oily substances found in wood, the products are resistant to damage by woodworms and microorganisms. Such wood is used to make floor boards, parquet boards and furniture. Timber is very difficult to saw, but it is well ground and polished.
The hardness index of the Amazonian yarra is almost 6 points, it grows in South America. The wood is dark red or plum in the heart. The sapwood has a light yellowish or brown tint. The timber of this tree becomes darker when exposed to moisture and air. Amazonian Yarra is difficult to process, but it is perfectly polished and bends. Boats and buildings are built from such material, various pieces of furniture and souvenirs are created.
On the territory of the tropical rainforests of West Africa, a mutia tree grows, reaching 60 m in height. Its hardness level is 5 points. Mutania wood products are brown, very similar to walnut, olive with a brownish tinge. The unique attractiveness of the wood is given by the "rays" of purple. Such wood is used for making floor boards, furniture and interior decoration elements.
European walnut or walnut grows in southern Europe and Asia Minor. The hardness of this tree is also 5 points. Walnut is an expensive wood, it is very much appreciated by lovers of natural materials. The structure of the fibers is even and parallel, sometimes there are undulating curvatures. Expensive furniture, parquet and veneer, as well as souvenirs are made from wood. Finished products are affected by the woodworm beetle.
Merbau timber has a hardness of 4.9 on the Brinell scale. This tree grows in the humid tropics of Papua and New Guinea, as well as in the forests of southeast Asia. The tree grows up to 30 meters. Timber is quite dense, one cubic meter of such material weighs about 800 kg. The core has a light orange tint or yellow color. The sapwood is light yellow in color. The wood becomes darker over time, acquires a bronze or brown hue, with a silvery overflow. Wood has an attractive texture due to the presence of straight and sinuous fibers. Merbau is not afraid of moisture, it can be used in bathrooms.
Ash has a hardness index of about 4. It is very common in Europe and Asia, as well as in America. An adult tree reaches over 35 m in height. Timber from young trunks is homogeneous, light, slightly grayish. And mature trees have a brown, brown color of the core. Several species of ash are distinguished by their reddish core. The structure of wood is similar to oak. Annual rings stand out well, they form a striped pattern. Boards of different sizes, plywood sheets, pieces of furniture, veneer are made from these timber. Several centuries ago, weapons, hunting tools, and catapults were made from ash.
The hardness of oak reaches 3.8 points. There are about 600 species of this tree. Timber does not rot when exposed to moisture. Wood white, yellowish shades. Annual rings are well defined. The sapwood is lighter in color than the heartwood. Oak, which has lain for a couple of centuries at the bottom of a reservoir, does not rot and does not decompose. On the contrary, it becomes more durable and firm, acquires a dark brown hue. Oak is a fairly valuable breed. Oak barrels and vehicle parts made from this material are very popular.
Of the coniferous timber, larch is the hardest. Its hardness is 2.6 on the Brinell scale. The wood has a dark red core. The sapwood has a lighter yellowish red color. The sapwood is separated from the core by a clear boundary. Buildings made of such wood do not rot for hundreds of years. Larch wood has a high viscosity, so it is processed slowly. The action of moisture only increases the hardness of wood. Soaked timber in hardness can be compared with stone.
| Breed name |
Density, kg / m 3 |
Hardness (Brinell coefficient) |
Colour |
Properties |
|
Acacia |
sapwood light brown, heartwood red-brown with black veins |
There are many types of acacia that are used in the production of parquet, furniture, household items, musical instruments (guitars), rifle butts. |
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Amaranth |
purple, purple-red (plain) |
grows in Central and South America; amaranth is valued for its rich purple (violet) color; deliveries to the Russian market are extremely limited |
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Afromormosia |
yellowish brown (brown-golden), with dark streaks |
beautiful, decorative breed; aformosia is often used as an insert in mosaic floors |
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Balau (Bangkirai) |
light brown to dark brown with a reddish tinge |
grows in Southeast Asia; the drawing is barely distinguishable; wood is practically not subject to decay; used as decking, bathroom flooring, garden furniture |
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Bamboo |
golden-straw, interspersed with darker transverse stripes at the locations of the stem nodes |
lignified bamboo stalk has all the properties of high-quality hardwood |
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Karelian birch |
light yellowish with darker wavy tints |
Karelian birch - a completely unique tree with a pattern resembling marble; many wavy overflows of light yellow shades with dark stripes, in a word, this must be seen; parquet and furniture made of Karelian birch look amazing, but the material is very rare and expensive |
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Black birch |
delicate color palette: dark rays like riverbeds cut into yellow gold textures |
parquet from this type of daevesina will "strike" in the eye, which must be taken into account when choosing an interior; the mass of this tree does not have a high density and hardness, therefore it should not be used in rooms with a very high load |
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Bilinga |
golden yellow to orange red |
bilinga grows in equatorial Africa; wood is extremely resistant to moisture, decay, pests due to the high content of tannins and natural oils; bilinga furniture and parquet are highly valued for their golden color and pleasant wood texture |
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Bubinga |
red-brown |
bubinga - a rare African tree, the texture is uneven fibrous; the beauty of wood is revealed after coating; deliveries to our market are very rare |
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|
light, with a reddish tint |
due to the homogeneous structure of the wood, the beech floor visually looks calm, warm, even soft, although beech is a solid, durable tree; beech is well processed with a cutting tool, it is well polished |
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|
wenge |
large, smooth-fibered, very decorative breed; heavy, resistant to pressure, bending; the pores of wenge wood contain many mineral and oily substances that make processing difficult, for example, varnishing |
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Cherry |
pink-brown, sometimes pink-gray |
smooth-fibered wood with a relatively uniform texture; very decorative, has a beautiful warm shade, but darkens over time; cherry is much softer than oak, lends itself well to all types of processing |
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|
gray-brown to dark brown with red streaks |
elm is widespread in North America and Europe; annual rings of wood are pronounced, due to which elm is considered one of the most beautiful European species; elm is used to make furniture, household items, paper |
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Goncalo (tiger tree) |
very unusual, highly decorative wood with sharp transitions from light to dark tones (like the stripes of a tiger, which is why it is called a tiger tree) |
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Hornbeam |
brilliant, pearly white (or the color of melting snow), with fine sandy filaments |
hornbeam - a relative of birch, has twisted fibers (siltiness), which interferes with its processing; annual rings are weakly expressed; hard wood, sticky |
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Hickory (hickory, pecan) |
brown, with harmoniously alternating light and dark areas |
strong, resilient wood; perfectly tolerates large temperature differences; in the old days was used for the production of wheels |
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Pear |
has a pinkish tint |
the wood texture is thin, the pores and the pattern of annual rings are weakly expressed; a strong tendency to warp, so drying must be done slowly enough |
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Daru |
golden beige or golden pink |
Daru wood has a pleasant, persistent smell, especially when cut |
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Doussia (dussia) |
red-brown or yellowish-brown |
very decorative breed; doussia contains a significant amount of oily substances, which must be taken into account when choosing varnishes; well ground, polished; resistant to external influences |
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|
from light brown to yellowish brown with a beautiful texture on the cut |
wood is widely used for the manufacture of parquet and plank floors; strong, durable, resistant to external influences wood; dries relatively slowly, with accelerated drying it is prone to cracking; over time, the oak darkens a little, which gives a shade of noble antiquity to a long time in operation |
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Zebrano |
pronounced double color: against a general background from gray-brown to yellow-brown, frequent dark brown stripes are clearly distinguished, located in the longitudinal direction |
the breed is decorative; well ground, polished; the coating from this breed is bright, sunny, energetic, got its name thanks to the stripes, just like a zebra :) deliveries to Russia are made in extremely limited quantities, since the tree is on the verge of extinction |
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|
Iroko (to ambala) |
yellowish brown |
the breed is resistant to microclimate changes and various pests; Iroko is often used as a substitute for teak, as it is extremely resistant to moisture. |
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Chestnut |
sapwood - light, heartwood - dark brown |
chestnut is distributed throughout Europe; wood texture resembles oak, with clear thin growth rings; however, in terms of physical and mechanical properties, chestnut is significantly inferior to oak |
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Kekatong |
pink-brown, with lilac-red streaks; pattern resembles a walnut |
a rare type of wood that has high hardness and stability; is not afraid of moisture, therefore it is often used as a deck covering and decking |
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Kempas |
bright, golden reddish to dark orange |
uniform, dense wood, rather heavy, hard; low resistance to deformation when exposed to moisture |
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Kerangi |
golden orange to red |
keranzhi grows on the coast of the Indian Ocean; the texture of the wood is wavy-striped, quite pronounced, the surface is shiny, thanks to which very beautiful parquet and furniture are obtained from keranji |
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|
Maple |
white, sometimes with a slightly yellowish tint; turns yellow over time |
maple - an exquisite material for interior decoration, creating an emphatically contrasting light background for dark furniture; maple is prone to cracking, so it requires careful adherence to the drying regime |
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|
cocobolo |
sapwood - light, heartwood - from orange-red to red-brown |
an exotic wood species that grows along the Pacific coast; has a unique texture - many wavy black lines on a burgundy or dark red background; used for the manufacture of furniture, parquet, musical instruments (drum, guitar), figurines, billiard cues, etc. |
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|
Coconut palm |
orange-red to dark brown - the older the tree, the darker |
coconut wood is all dotted with small dark veins, which gives it an original appearance (it looks like it is covered with wool); an important feature - the darker the coconut wood, the higher its quality |
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|
Kulim |
red-brown to dark purple |
grows in the forests of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia; the texture of kulim wood is moderately even with smooth transitions from light to darker tones; good for carpentry |
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Kumaru |
golden brown with dark, slightly wavy longitudinal veins |
finely porous, very dense wood; resistance to external influences - high; thanks to its beautiful appearance, it can be used to cover garden paths, pool areas, gazebos, etc. |
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|
Kumier (Kumier) |
golden red to reddish brown |
Kumier grows in Southeast Asia, is close to campas in properties, has a pronounced texture; used, as a rule, in the form of inlays in artistic parquet |
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Lapacho (ipe) |
olive-gray, in places with alternating light and dark areas; darkens over time |
heavy, durable wood, contains oily substances; lapacho is easy to dry, but has a significant susceptibility to warpage |
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Merbau |
brown, from light to dark brown, in places interspersed with yellow streaks |
very hard, moisture-resistant wood, does not dry out a little; merbau is used, for example, for decking, interior decoration on ships and yachts; in parquet floors, merbau goes well with oak |
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Mutania |
pale coffee to olive brown with bright purple highlights |
turbidity seems to be specially created in order to become parquet or furniture: shiny, spectacular |
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Olive |
yellow-white, sometimes with a reddish tint, with characteristic irregular dark rays |
fine texture; very decorative, dense, little prone to drying out breed; olive is perfectly polished, gives a beautiful smooth surface |
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Alder |
low |
golden pink |
wood is slightly deformed during drying, due to which the parquet from it is stable to moisture changes; alder is not too hard, has a fine structure |
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Nut |
brown-gray, with darker patches |
the breed is very decorative, has long been widely used for interior decoration and furniture manufacturing; the nut is relatively hard, but fairly easy to process; walnut is resistant to deformation, cracking during drying |
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African padouk |
bright coral red |
paduk has aesthetic value |
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Rosewood |
dark brown, with a purple or lilac tint, as well as separate inclusions of pink, yellow and even greenish |
rosewood wood contains many oily substances; it is believed that rosewood has a special positive energy; drying rosewood is associated with significant difficulties, because. when this process is accelerated, intense cracking occurs |
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Panga-Panga |
golden brown to very dark brown with black streaks |
large, even-grained wood, very decorative; heavy, resistant to pressure, bending; the pores of the wood contain many mineral and oily substances that make it difficult to process, for example, varnishing |
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Pinkado |
reddish brown veined dark brown to purple brown |
wood is fine-fibered, intertwined, dense, as a result of which it is quite resistant to deformation; pinkado does not prick, does not exfoliate during processing |
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Sapele |
red-brown, with a beautiful golden sheen |
very decorative wood; sapele lends itself well to grinding, polishing |
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Sucupira |
chocolate raspberry flecked with ocher yellow veins |
wood is hard to process, but easy to sand, polish |
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Taouari (Brazilian oak) |
light straw with a yellow tint |
wood resistant, durable; tauari is used for the manufacture of parquet, decorative furniture parts, musical instruments; the even pattern of solid taouari boards is ideal for finishing the floor in bedrooms |
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|
Tiger tree (goncalo) |
brown, dark brown irregular stripes, oblong spots on a general beige or yellowish-orange background |
tiger tree wood is very decorative and spectacular |
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|
golden brown with dark patches or patches |
teak texture is well defined, the direction of the fibers is even or slightly wavy; has a high content of oily substances, therefore it practically does not rot and can be preserved under favorable conditions for hundreds of years; teak lends itself well to all types of mechanical processing; teak is very resistant to loads, external influences, therefore it has long been used in shipbuilding |
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|
dark brown with darker veins |
very dense and heavy wood, wear resistance is extremely high, which is why the wood is hard to grind; but, at the same time, carpentry is not such a difficult process; usually used as inlay in art parquet |
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Eben |
glossy black with lighter dark gray longitudinal veins |
wood is very decorative and spectacular, especially when well polished |
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Yarra |
all shades of red, predominantly from strawberry to dark red |
wood is very hard, durable, resistant to all kinds of pests; jarrah is difficult to process, but it is well polished and polished; during rapid drying, the wood warps, twisting in the direction of the fibers, so the drying process of the material must be strictly monitored |
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Ash |
light, slightly yellowish, with a well-defined characteristic texture pattern on the cut |
ash is superior in hardness to oak, but at the same time it is very elastic, therefore it is often used for sports facilities; ash lends itself well to machining; wood is prone to cracking, so drying should be done slowly and thoroughly |
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Jatoba (curbaryl) |
orange-brown to purple and dark brown |
wood is heavy, durable, hard, and relatively elastic; yatoba is difficult to process, but is ground and polished to almost a mirror finish; when polishing, in some cases, the color of the pores of the wood may appear from almost white to yellowish lemon; drying must be carried out slowly enough to avoid the formation of cracks |
In the fields of construction and production, traditional consumables are being replaced by high-tech plastics in various designs. They are distinguished by high technical and physical qualities, which allows them to confidently replace both wood and even metal. However, wood raw materials have many advantages due to the low cost of purchase and environmental friendliness. Strength is considered the weak point of this material. To increase this indicator, manufacturers use special processing methods to increase rigidity, density and, in general, resistance to mechanical damage. However, hardwoods initially have these properties, often eliminating the need for special heat treatments.
Hardwood Features
Typically, the quality of such rocks is evaluated by three indicators - density, Brinell hardness and cross-cut stiffness. On average, the density of such wood is about 1200-1400 kg/m 3 . As for the hardness according to Brinell, this value can reach 3.5 kgf / mm 2, and the rigidity of the transverse cut is 80 MPa. Again, these figures are typical for trees familiar to Russian conditions, and exotic species may have significantly superior characteristics. What types of wood are hardwoods in the temperate zone? Usually isolated oak, beech, ash and some types of hornbeam. It is important to consider that along with the positive quality in the form of hardness, such trees also differ in negative properties. It has already been said that in order to improve the performance, lumber can be subjected to additional processing. Sometimes solid wood is also subjected to similar operations to obtain special physical characteristics. And here a serious problem manifests itself, since many rocks, due to their high density, cannot stand the processes of grinding, impregnation, and especially drying. Often cracks, chips and other manifestations of structural deformation are formed.
Hardwood classifications
Allocate breeds that grow in the temperate zone, and exotic trees. There is also a classification into deciduous and coniferous species. Although most hardwoods are still deciduous, among the needles there are also varieties with increased density and stiffness characteristics. As for the rocks of the temperate zone, they include maple, boxwood, briar and the mentioned hornbeam. Coniferous hardwoods are also the most common here. Which of them has the most pronounced indicators of hardness? In this case, larch, yew, juniper and lawson deserve attention. There are also hardwoods among the usual fruit trees - forest apple, oxalis, pear, mountain ash and some types of walnut stand out in this category. As for exotic rocks, they demonstrate the highest rates of hardness and density. Here, red and lemon eucalyptus, etc., are of particular interest. Now it is worth considering in more detail the hardest tree species.
Red tree
In Russia, this breed is the most popular, as it can be purchased on a free sale. This is a tropical tree, which is characterized by high hardness, as well as the original texture on the cut. Freshly sawn wood has a yellowish-red hue, but over time it is replaced by darker tones, which gives the material nobility. Accordingly, the consumer appreciates not only the technical, but also the decorative properties of this tree. It should be noted that from the point of view of pronounced decorative qualities, backout and boxwood also belong to hardwoods. Moreover, these rocks are used not only as finishing materials, but can also replace individual decorative details in jewelry and technical devices. But mahogany is also distinguished by ease of machining. The density of this rock is not so high compared to many solid materials of tropical origin, so this raw material is in great demand in furniture factories.
iron tree
If heavy-duty plastics can replace iron due to their strength, then this rock is not only able to take the place of an element resistant to mechanical stress in some areas, but at the same time meet increased requirements in terms of environmental resistance. The concept of an iron tree includes a whole group of species that mainly grow in the countries of the Asian region and in Australia. The classic representative of the group is the Persian parrotia. This species is common in relic forests, where local residents have been making handles for knives and axes from it since ancient times. Today, the "iron" wood of hardwoods is under the protection of UNESCO. This breed, in particular, has an aesthetic value, which causes great interest in it from the market.
Merbau
This is not the hardest, but in terms of other operational qualities, one might say, the most practical breed. Previously used in the construction of marine vessels. This is due to the fact that the material is resistant to moisture and also does not dry out. Therefore, merbau can be stored for a long time, after which it can be subjected to heat treatments and used in construction. As already noted, hardwood trees, like hornbeam or beech, practically do not tolerate additional processing. But merbau steadfastly endures traditional methods of influence in order to improve individual performance.
white locust
The hardest rock in Russia, which is valued not only for its strength, but also for its resistance to biological destruction processes. In addition, this type of acacia is well polished and does not crack during long-term operation. Subject to preventive treatment measures, wood is also not subjected to minor mechanical damage. By the way, in terms of technical characteristics, this type is superior to such hardwoods as oak and ash.
Lignum vitae
The hardness index of this tree is one of the highest in the world. Suffice it to say that the material optimally copes with its tasks when used in the form of bearings, bushings and brackets. In the navy, the wood of this species was often used as deck material. But as lumber, backout is valued for other reasons. It does not lend itself to deforming processes under the influence of third-party negative factors. These can be both chemical and physical influences that do not have a destructive effect on the structure. There are other hardwoods that also show resistance to extreme loads. But the unique quality of the backout is a balanced combination of large mass and density.
The use of hardwood
Most of this material is used in construction. Wood in one form or another can be used as a basis for structures, and as a finish. Separate breeds are also used in the fields of mechanical engineering and instrumentation. Of these, separate functional elements are made with the expectation of long-term use - and these can be both temporary consumables and durable parts of structures. These are the main, but not all, areas in which high-strength wood species are used. Soft, hard rocks, as well as those with average density values, can also be used for medical purposes. In this case, hardness is not so important. The fact is that many exotic breeds contain resins that are unique in their qualities. The preparation of therapeutic mixtures for internal and external use, in particular, allows you to deal with diseases of the joints, respiratory organs, etc.
Conclusion
Manufacturers of building materials are well aware of the rule that the improvement of one technical and operational property almost always entails the minimization of other qualities. In part, this law also applies to hardwoods, which, according to some characteristics, lose to softwoods. The processes of biological destruction, physical deformation, as well as texture distortion are the main disadvantages of soft rocks used in the long term. But on the other hand, such wood has the advantage of being susceptible to additional treatments. Of course, there are exceptions in both categories, but the soft structure, due to its low density, is still more inclined to form new properties artificially.
In this article, we will talk about unique hardwoods that are rarely found in nature and even less often come across in the form of products. You will learn about the strength and hardness of these rocks and where they are used. The article also contains a comparative description of the properties of wood.
Continuing the theme of exotic woods, we will talk about a material that until recently was not available in Russia. The development of trade and transport made it possible to deliver exclusive products and furniture from the wood of the tropics, Africa and Oceania. Over time, these products have gained wide popularity not only as a luxury or exotic item, but also as a practical building material with unique properties.
Hornbeam
The uniqueness of this type of wood lies in the fact that it is popular not so much as lumber, but in its living form. He is the only one of the above, which can be found on the free market.
The hornbeam grows in the Northern Hemisphere and is most common in China. Its structure resembles a bush, but it grows very slowly. It is thanks to this combination - bushiness and slow growth - that live hornbeam has become a favorite material for masters of gardening art and lovers of green hedges. The green cap of the tree keeps its shape up to 15 days after shearing, and the density of the branches allows you to create opaque living sculptures. The hornbeam gained great love in Japan, where the art of bonsai is popular - decorative species are specially bred for this.
The mechanical properties of hornbeam wood are at least impressive:
- Density - 750 kg / m 3.
- The hardness of the cross section is 83.5 MPa.
- Brinell hardness - 3.5 kgf / mm 2.
These figures are an order of magnitude higher than those of the average (reference) oak. However, such properties have their price, and it lies in the shortcomings of hornbeam lumber:
- High volumetric shrinkage. The material shrinks and cracks as it dries.
- Difficult processing. Due to the peculiarities in the structure of the fibers, the hornbeam does not lend itself well to conventional grinding.
- It dries slowly and is difficult to process with a tool.
The undoubted advantage of such lumber is a beautiful sinuous structure, sometimes of different colors (dark brown and yellowish). From the hornbeam they make piece and artistic products - billiard cues, musical instruments, souvenirs and some details of machine tools.
boxwood
8 Ash, hardness - 4.0
Ash is a genus of woody plants from the Olive family. Representatives of the genus are trees with a height of 25-35 m (some specimens up to 60 m) and a trunk diameter of up to 1 m, with an elongated ovoid, highly raised, wide-rounded crown and thick, sparse branches. Ash wood, due to its elasticity and strength, was used for the manufacture of military and hunting weapons. Stakes and battle clubs were made from ash, which turned out to be heavy, strong and elastic. The ancient Novgorodians made bows from five ash plates glued together with bone glue. Bear spears, spears, arrows, poles are examples of ash hunting tools.
9 Oak, hardness - 3.8
Oak is a genus of trees and shrubs of the Beech family.
The genus includes approximately 600 species. The natural habitat of the oak is the regions of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. Oak drill and ornamental forests are mainly produced by the named Russian-European species. Oak wood is distinguished by strength, strength, density, hardness and heaviness. The properties of wood depend on the growing conditions of the tree.
10 Beech, hardness - 3.8
Beech is a genus of broad-leaved trees of the Beech family. The height of the trees is up to 30 m, the thickness of the trunk is up to 2 m. The trunk is smooth, covered with a thin layer of gray bark. In a beech, which has a dense crown of whole-leaved leaves, the upper branches shade the lower ones so much that the latter, not having the access of light necessary for photosynthesis, gradually die off and fall off. As a result, the beech tree in the forest almost to the very top is devoid of branches, and its crown is supported, as it were, by bare pillars. This property is characteristic of all species of the genus Beech. Beech wood is often used for the manufacture of various products: musical instruments, in particular, guitars, plywood, parquet, wooden containers, weaving shuttles, rifle butts, measuring instruments, etc. Steam-treated beech bends easily. This feature allows the use of beech wood in the furniture industry in the manufacture of Viennese chairs and rounded parts.
iron trees
Ironwood is a very heavy wood that sinks quickly in water. The density of ironwood wood is significantly higher than the density of water, and therefore it sinks. The bark of an iron tree is very thin and breaks easily. If the branches of neighboring trees touch each other, they quickly grow together, creating interesting plexuses. From Latin, the iron tree is translated as "the tree of life", because it is famous for its famous healing properties and the ability to heal many ailments.
In different regions, "iron tree" means different plants:
Temir-agach
1. Temir-agach (damiragach) or "iron tree" - grows in Iran and Azerbaijan and surpasses iron in hardness. Temir-agach is quite often used in the manufacture of living barriers, which become stronger and stronger every year. It is impossible to get through a thicket of such trees, because the trunk of an iron tree is completely devoid of flexibility.
2. Persian parrotia is one of the most durable iron trees. It grows in the Transcaucasian and Northern Iranian forests. Suitable for the production of machine parts and art products.
Wooden nails
3. Yew (Taxus), or "non-pus-tree". This iron tree has not only strong wood, but also almost does not rot. Nails were made from it, used in the construction of underground and underwater structures.
4. Azobe is a tropical African iron tree.
5. Amazonian tree - Brazilian iron tree.
Metal replacement
6. Schmidt's birch - grows in the southern part of the Primorsky Territory in the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve. The wood of this birch is 1.5 times stronger than cast iron and may well replace metal. The life expectancy of the Schmidt birch is about 400 years, like no other birch on the planet.
7. Also rosewood (or rosewood), ebony, kumaru.
Each of these trees has very strong wood, enriched with oils, the bark of such trees is resistant to decay, and they are all heavier than water. A good boat from such wood will not work, but for the manufacture of furniture - this is one of the best materials, however, and the most expensive.
Surely, many people know that such types of wood as oak and ash are distinguished by solid wood. However, if we talk about the hardest tree, then this is the "iron" tree. Moreover, in various countries of the world, different types of trees are classified as “iron”, differing in such hard and durable wood, which is often capable of surpassing iron in these indicators. And this means that the wood of such trees is very difficult to process, does not float on water and sinks, and can also be used to make nails and even structural elements for machines. So what representatives of the plant world have the well-deserved title of "the hardest tree"?
This hardest tree is present in the forests of Azerbaijan and Iran. In terms of hardness, it is many times stronger than iron. If you want to go through thickets of such trees, you will very soon realize that this is impossible due to the lack of flexibility of their trunks. Very often, such trees are used to make hedges, which grow stronger and stronger every year.
This is the hardest tree among the "iron" trees found in the forests of Northern Ireland and the Caucasus. Black wood has an unusual structure, is very durable and is resistant to various insect pests. Due to the high density of parrotia wood, it is successfully used for the production of wind musical instruments, machine parts and various artistic crafts. This tree is included in the Red Book.
Tiss
This representative of the "iron" trees not only has heavy-duty wood, but also does not rot, for which he received the name "non-rot-tree". It is found in Transcaucasia and the Far East. Previously, nails were made from the wood of the non-purulent tree, and it was also used for the construction of structures located under water or underground.
Amazonian and African "iron" trees
In Africa, you can find a tree related to the "iron" - it is called azobe. In Brazil, a similar tree grows - the Amazonian "iron" tree, which is distinguished by its excellent strength and hardness of wood.
This is the hardest tree growing in the protected forest called "Kedrovaya Pad" (Primorsky Territory). In terms of strength, it exceeds the same parameter of cast iron by 1.5 times. You can even shoot this birch with a pistol - the bullet will simply fly off and not damage its trunk. The wood of this tree successfully replaces metal. A rare tree lives for about four hundred years, which is a very impressive lifespan, because not a single birch is distinguished by such longevity.
The wood of this tree, which grows up to 8 meters, was previously used for the production of parts for watches, buttons, gun ramrods, and parts for looms. And spears or arrows, which were made from dogwood wood, did not know wear and tear.
Ulin
This Bornean "iron" tree is extremely difficult to process due to the high hardness of the wood. Its even texture and pleasant color make it particularly attractive for the production of parquet, solid boards and furniture. It is possible to saw this tree, however, tools often have to be sharpened. But the product from the street will serve for quite a long time.
White acacia
This tree has wood, which in our country is considered one of the hardest. Attractive texture, juicy color, excellent strength, the highest hardness, excellent resistance to decay - these are the distinguishing features of this wood. In addition, it is very easy to polish. Acacia wood is used for the production of furniture and parquet.
It also bears the name "Brazilian cherry", but it has nothing to do with the genus "cherry". A tree with high hardness has a wide crown and grows up to forty meters in length.
The wood of this tree, which grows in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia, is difficult to process, but polishes well. Also, sucupira wood is not affected by fungi and various pests. Among the trees with strong and hard wood, one can also distinguish ebony, rosewood, kumara. All of these trees sink easily in water and have rot-resistant bark. This means that you won’t be able to get a boat out of their wood, but you can produce beautiful furniture.