TECHNICAL DATA

FAMILY: Tigerwood
Anacardiaceae (Cashew Family)

GENUS:
Astronium spp.

SPECIES SCIENTIFIC NAMES:
1. Astronium Lecointei
2. Astronium Graveolens
3. Astronium Fraxinifolium
4. Astronium Urundeuva
5. Astronium Balansae

DISTRIBUTION:
Astronium is a common tree with an area of natural distribution from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America and South America to the Andes Mountains in the west and south to Argentina. There are no US CITES regulations (reciprocal international ecoregion treaties concerning threatened or endangered species) with references to Astronium.

 

HABITAT:
It is found at altitudes ranging from 500 to 3,000 feet but is most common at 1,500 to 1,800 feet in both dry and humid forests. It does not tolerate saturated or heavy clay soils but grows well in poorly drained limestone or rocky and alluvial soils. Best growth is obtained on lighter soils with less than 40% clay, neutral pH and good drainage. In most of its range it is considered one of the major canopy species in both primary and secondary forests. It is a sub canopy species in marginal lowlands or very high elevations. It is considered a good candidate for plantation farming with easy germination, wide habitat range and 35 to 45 year merchantable harvest rotations.


BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
Astronium is a deciduous tree maturing to a maximum of 25 to 105 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet in diameter depending on habitat and growing conditions. It is a relatively fast growing tree averaging 2-5 growth rings per inch to maturity with 2 to 4 inches of white sapwood. The tree is symmetrical with a straight bole, small narrow buttress flanges 3 to 6 feet tall, and a spreading or round dense crown.

HEARTWOOD DESCRIPTION:

Color when fresh is light orange to reddish brown and is more or less conspicuously marked with vertical blackish bands of variable spacing. There is often a variegated grain appearance which produces a very striking and beautiful mottled figure. Continuous unprotected exposure to sunlight turns the color more reddish and accentuates the black striping but eventually turns it a uniform silver-grey. The grain varies from straight to intercrossed; the texture is fine and homogenous; and the luster generally high. Wood cells are relatively square, small and medium to very thick-walled. There are few to minor mineral inclusions with silica generally absent. The wood is very heavy, with a basic specific gravity of .75 to .79. The green weight is 5,500 to 5,700 lbs per thousand board feet and 3,400 to 3,550 lbs per thousand board feet at 12% moisture content. Tiger Deck products are dried to 7-9% moisture content and weigh 2,750 lbs per thousand board feet on a nominal basis.

REQUIREMENT OF A PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT:

Against dry wood borer attacks: Does not require any preservative treatment
In case of permanent humidification risk: Does not require any preservative treatment

END USES LISTED IN DECENDING ORDER BY HISTORICAL VOLUME USED:
1. Structural Carpentry
2. Bridge Construction
3. Cabinetry
4. Sliced Veneers
5. Flooring
6. Exterior Joinery
7. Interior Joinery
8. Indoor Furniture
9. Boat Carpentry
10. Marine Piling and Carpentry
11. Outdoor Furniture
12. Porches and other Outdoor Decking
13. Tool Handles
14. Musical Instruments
15. Sculpture

PICTURES:

 

The tree in full bloom

 

 

 

The tree trunk

 

 

 

The tree leaf

 

 

 

 

The tree fruit

  

   

PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

 

Description

 

Source or Method

Value

Bending Strength (psi @ 12%)

USDA Forest Service

16,620

Modulus of elasticity (1000 psi @ 12%

USDA Forest Service

2,230

Maximum crushing strength (psi @ 12%)

USDA Forest Service

10,320

Janka side hardness (dry)

USDA Forest Service

2,160

Weight (green)

USDA Forest Service

77 lbs/cu.ft.

Density (oven dry/green volume - air dry wt)

USDA Forest Service

.75 - 60 lbs/cu.ft.

Radial shrinkage (green to oven dry)

USDA Forest Service

4.0%

Tangential shrinkage (green to oven dry)

USDA Forest Service

7.6%

Volumetric shrinkage (green to oven dry)

USDA Forest Service

10.0%

Coefficient of friction (dry

ASTM F1679

>0.96

Coefficient of friction (wet)

ASTM F1679

0.61

Durability

Fungi

Dry wood borers

Termites

 

USDA Forest Service

USDA Forest Service

USDA Forest Service

 

Very durable

Very durable (risk limited to sapwood)

Very durable

Permeability

USDA Forest Service

Very difficult to chemically impregnate

Sawing & Machining

Sawtooth recommended

Cutting tools

Knife cutting angle

 

 

Stellite tipped

Tungsten carbide

15 Degrees

Nailing / Screwing

 

Good but pre-boring recommended

Gluing

 

Use glues with longer open time such as exterior or woodworkers white glue.

Tree size

USDA Forest Service

24"-40" dia. / 120' ht.

Fire Rating

ASTM E 648-03

ASTM E 84-05

NFPA 101 Type I

NFPA 101 Class B

 

Solid Wood Decking Load Tables

Tiger Deck 4/4 (net 23/32)

 

Joist Spacing

inches

 

Allowable Load (PSF)

 

Maximum Deflection

 

Maximum Flexural Stress (psi)

 

Deflection L/Span

12

40

0.00043

58

L/27698

16

40

0.00137

104

L/11685

19.2

40

0.00284

149

L/6762

24

40

0.00693

233

L/3482

 

12

 

60

 

0.00065

 

87

 

L/18485

16

60

0.00205

155

L/7790

19.2

60

0.00426

224

L/4508

24

60

0.01040

350

L/2308

 

12

 

90

 

0.00097

 

131

 

L/12310

16

90

0.00308

233

L/5193

19.2

90

0.00639

336

L/3005

24

90

0.01560

524

L/1539

 

 

Solid Wood Decking Load Tables

Tiger Deck 5/4 (net 15/16)

 

Joist Spacing

inches

 

Allowable Load (PSF)

 

Maximum Deflection

 

Maximum Flexural Stress (psi)

 

Deflection L/Span

12

40

0.00022

37

L/54096

16

40

0.00070

66

L/22822

19.2

40

0.00145

95

L/13207

24

40

0.00355

148

L/6762

 

12

 

60

 

0.00033

 

58

 

L/38085

16

60

0.00105

99

L/15215

19.2

60

0.00218

143

L/6805

24

60

0.00532

224

L/4508

 

12

 

90

 

0.00050

 

84

 

L/24043

16

90

0.00158

149

L/10143

19.2

90

0.00327

215

L/5870

24

90

0.00799

335

L/3005

 

 

SOURCES:
Commercial Testing Company

H.G. Richter and M.J. Dallwitz (2000 onwards)

W.A. Marin and E.M. Flores Universidad de Costa Rica and Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Costa Rica, respectively

Rodolfo Salazar, CATIE and Dorthe Joker, Danida Forest Seed Centre, Denmark

USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory

Chudnoff, Martin. 1984. Tropical Timbers of the World.

Tropix 4.1 Copyright: CIRAD - FORET 2003

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