African Mahogany

PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

These properties may vary significantly depending on the provenance and growth conditions of the woods. (See table below)

• Density *: 0.57 (12% humidity)
• Hardness Monnin *: 2.5
• Coef. Volume shrinkage: 0.39%
• Stability in service: moderately stable
• Total radial shrinkage: 3.7%
• Pt of saturation of the fibers: 28%
• Total tangential withdrawal: 5.5%

NATURAL DURABILITY AND IMPREGNABILITY OF WOOD

• Mushrooms: cl 3 – moderately durable
• Dry wood insects: durable; separate berth (risk limited to the berth)
• Termites : classe S – sensible
• Impregnability: 4 – non-permeable
• Biological hazard class: 2 – off ground contact, sheltered (risk of humidification)

African mahogany can not be used without suitable preservation treatment in occupations corresponding to risk class 3, except for certain parts of the structure such as windows, which are less exposed than others (entrance doors, shutters …).

SAWING AND MACHINING

• Blunting effect: normal
• Sawing teeth: plain or alloy steel
• Machining tools: ordinary
• Tendency to lint (tension wood) at sawing. Risk of tearing (counter-wire) to planing. Ribbon aspect on quarter.

ASSEMBLAGE

• Nailing – Screwing: good performance
• Collage : correct

UTILISATIONS

Pores sometimes filled with black deposits. Dust can cause irritation. Porage mouth recommended for a better finish.

• furniture
• paneling
• shipbuilding
• light craft
• exterior and interior carpentry
• light frame

Main known uses to be validated by an implementation in the respect of the rules of the art. Important note: some uses are mentioned for information.

Source: CIRAD – ATIBT

REACTION TO FIRE

• French conventional classification :
  thickness > 14 mm : M.3 (moderately flammable)
  ply < 14 mm : M.4 (easily flammable)
• ranking according to euroclasses : D s2 d0
  This default classification concerns solid wood meeting the requirements of standard NF EN 14081-1 annex C (May 2006), used in vertical wall. Namely structural wood, classified, with a minimum average density of 0.35 and a minimum thickness of 22 mm.