Type of Sawn Timber (Kempas)
The Standard Malaysian Name for the timber of Koompassia malaccensis (Leguminosae). Vernacular names applied include impas (Sabah) and menggris (Sarawak). This is a monospecific timber. The sapwood is white or pale yellow and is sharply defined from the heartwood, which is pinkish when fresh and darkens to bright orange-red or deep brown. Also known as Kempas (Brunei); Hampas, Impas, Kempas, Keranji, Mengeris, Mengris, Pah and Upil (Indonesia); Koompassia (Papua New Guinea); and Makupa, Sifai and Tong-bueng (Thailand).
The Standard Malaysian Name for the timber of Koompassia malaccensis (Leguminosae). Vernacular names applied include impas (Sabah) and menggris (Sarawak). This is a monospecific timber. The sapwood is white or pale yellow and is sharply defined from the heartwood, which is pinkish when fresh and darkens to bright orange-red or deep brown. Also known as Kempas (Brunei); Hampas, Impas, Kempas, Keranji, Mengeris, Mengris, Pah and Upil (Indonesia); Koompassia (Papua New Guinea); and Makupa, Sifai and Tong-bueng (Thailand).
Charactieristic of sawn timber (kempas)
- DENSITY : Medium Hardwood with 770-1,120 kg/m3 air dry. It was reported density log from Sabah and Sarawak is much denser than the material from Peninsular Malaysia.
- NATURAL DURABILITY : Moderately durable under the Malaysian condition and a test conducted with average service life for 161 untreated specimens was 2.5 years. The sapwood is very susceptible to both powder-post beetles and fungi attacks, while the heartwood is readily destroyed by termites. However, Kempas can be treated with the appropriate wood preservatives.
- PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT : This timber is amenable to preservative treatment and it is classified as easy to treat.
- TEXTURE : Coarse and the grain is interlocked.
- AIR DRING : The timber seasons fairly slowly with very few defects except for insect attacks in the sapwood.
Additional Info woods
- STRENGTH PROPERTIES : The timber falls into Strength Group A (Engku, 1988b) or SG 2 (MS 544:Part 2:2001).
- MACHINING PROPERTIES: It is slightly difficult to resaw and easy to cross-cut when green but is difficult to resaw and slightly difficult to cross-cut when dried. Planing is easy in both conditions and the quality of the surfaces ranges from smooth to rough.
- NAILING PROPERTY : Poor
- SHRINKAGE : Shrinkage is on the high side with radial shrinkage averaging 2% and tangential shrinkage averaging 3%.
- DEFECTS :The major defect that is associated with the timber of kempas is the presence of included phloem.
- USES : The timber when treated with preservatives is suitable for all heavy constructional works, posts, beams, joists, rafters, piling, columns (heavy duty), fender supports, pallets (permanent and heavy duty), door and window frames and sills, tool handles (impact), bridges, wharves, marine construction, railway sleepers, telegraphic and power transmission posts and cross arms. When untreated, the timber is suitable for structures under cover, flooring, panelling, mouldings, vehicle bodies (framework and floor boards), plywood and charcoal manufacture.
Other type of sawn timber
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