Properties and Uses

Merawan

The Standard Malaysian Name for the light timbers of Hopea spp. (Dipterocarpaceae). The timber is a medium hardwood with a density of 495–980 kg m^-3 air dry. The sapwood is generally lighter in colour than and poorly defined from the heartwood, which is yellow when fresh but darkens to light brown or red-brown on exposure. Texture is moderately fine and even, with interlocked grain. The timber is strong (Strength group B). It is moderately easy to easy to resaw and cross-cut. Planing is fairly easy to easy and the surface produced is smooth. Nailing property is rated as very poor. The timber seasons slowly with slight cupping as the only defect. 13 mm boards take approximately 4 months to air dry while 38 mm boards take 6 months. Shrinkage is average, with radial shrinkage of H. sulcata averaging 0.9% and tangential shrinkage averaging 2.2%. For kiln-drying, Schedule H is recommended. 25 mm boards take approximately 5 days to kiln-dry from 50 to 10% moisture content. There is no recorded drying degrade. The timber is moderately durable and is very resistant to preservative treatment.

USES: The timber is suitable for rafters, joists, door and window frames, flooring, joinery, furniture manufacture, veneer and plywood manufacture. The heavier species are suitable for heavy construction under cover.

Vernacular names applied are usually merawan (P.M.) with various qualifying epithets, luis (Sar.), mang (Sar.) and selangan (Sab. and Sar.) with various epithets. Gagil is used for H. sangal in Sabah. The timber is usually mixed with the lighter species of Shorea and sold as selangan batu No. 2 in Sabah. Major species of merawan include H. beccariana, H. dryobalanoides, H. dyeir, H. ferruginea, H. glaucescens, H. griffithii, H. latifolia, H. mengarawan, H. montana, H. myrtifolia, H. nervosa, H. odorata, H. pierrei, H. pubescens, H. sangal, H. sublanceolata and H. sulcata.