Properties and Uses
Kulim |
The Standard Malaysian Name for the timber of Scorodocarpus borneensis (Olacaceae). The timber is a medium hardwood with a density of 640–975 kg m–3 air dry. The sapwood is light yellow in colour and is moderately sharply differentiated from the heartwood, which is dark purple-brown to dark red-brown. Texture is moderately fine and even, with shallowly to deeply interlocked grain. The timber is very strong (Strength group A). It is slightly difficult to difficult to resaw and is easy to slightly difficult to cross-cut. The air-dry material is slightly difficult to plane but the quality of finish is smooth. The nailing property is rated as very poor. The timber seasons fairly rapidly, with moderate end-checking and splitting and slight surface-checking as the main sources of degrade. 13 mm boards take 2 months to air dry, while 38 mm boards take 4 months. Shrinkage is fairly high, with radial shrinkage averaging 1.7% and tangential shrinkage averaging 3.2%. The timber is moderately durable under exposed conditions and its amenability to treatment is average. USES: The timber is suitable for medium construction under cover, posts, beams, joists, rafters, bridges. The timber possesses a certain degree of resistance to marine borers and may be used in the marine environment. The timber is also suitable for flooring, railway sleepers and power-transmission poles when treated with preservatives. Vernacular names applied include bawang hutan (Sab. and Sar.) and ungsunah (Sar.). This is a monotypic timber.
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