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PREFAB BUILDINGS
MERBAU
This page provides an overview of the timber species Merbau. Please see the end of this page for references.
The Latin name of this tree is Intsia bijuga. Its timber is called Merbau which is stronger than Teak and resistant termites and other insects. Merbau is used where stability and durability are important. It grows mainly in Southeast Asia in costal areas, mangroves and lowland forests. The following characteristics and properties vary greatly in literature.
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Local names |
Merbau (Malaysia, Indonesia), Lumpho/ Lum-Paw (Thailand), Kwila (New Guinea) Vesi (Fiji Islands), Ipil (Philippines), KWILAU (Australia), Kalabau (China), Hintsy (Madagascar), Gonuoc (Vietnam). |
| Distribution | Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, northern Australia and Madagaskar. In Indonesia: All over Sumatra, Borneo and Celebes, West Java, Central Java, Moluccas, East Nusa Tenggara, Papua(Irian Jaya). In costal areas and lowland forests till an altitute of 400m. |
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS |
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| Height | in average 40m |
| Clear bole | in average 20m |
| Bole diameter | 1,0m |
| Thickness sapwood | 5-8cm |
| Bark | gray, gray to brown, light brown, tight, thickness till 1.0cm |
| Color | Heartwood yellowish to orange brown when freshly cut, turning brown or dark red brown on exposure; sapwood pale yellow to light buff, sharply demarcated from the heartwood.
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| Texture | evenly coarse |
| Grain | straight or occasionally slightly interlocked
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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES |
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| Density | 830kg/m3 (12% moisture content) 1050kg/m3 (green) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 4.4% |
| Total radial shrinkage | 2.7% |
| Fibre saturation point | 24 % |
| Stability | stable |
Based on mature heartwood, 12% moisture content.
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MECHANICAL PROPERTIES |
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| Crushing strenght | 73 N/mm2 |
| Bending strength | 120 N/mm2 |
| Modulus of elasticitiy | 15400 N/mm2 |
based on mature heartwood; 12% moisture content
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DURABILITY |
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| Fungi | Very Durable to Durable, Class 1 - 2 |
| Termites | Durable, Class M |
| Dry wood borer attack | Does not require any preservative treatment. |
| In case of temporary or permanent humidification risk | Does not require any preservative treatment.
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WORKING PROPERTIES |
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References
Chudnoff, M. (1984) Tropical Timbers of the World - Agriculture Handbook. US Forest Service Department of Agriculture. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Madison, WI.
Cirad Tropics. (2003) Merbau http://tropix.cirad.fr/asia/merbau.pdf
Department of Foresty Agency for Forestry Research and Development Forest Product Research and Development Centre (1989) Indonesia Wood Atlas. BogorIndonesia.
Wagenführ, R. (1996) Holzatlas, Fachbuchverlag Leipzig.
Leipzig.