Abstract

RODRIGUEZ ANDA, Raúl et al. Properties of the wood from commercial teak plantations. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.24, pp.12-25. ISSN 2007-1132.

The physical-mechanical properties of Tectona grandis (teak) timber from commercial plantations of the Mexican Southeast were analyzed. 9 and 15 year old trees of the state of Campeche, 21 year old trees of Chiapas and 15 year old trees of Tabasco were selected. Ten 3 m long logs were collected by age and origin. The physical and mechanical properties were evaluated according to the DIN norms. The normal density fluctuated between 0.55 and 0.66 g cm^-3. The highest radial and tangential contraction was 2-2.8 % and 4.3-5.1 % (low); the anisotropy was 1.8-2.2 (good to high), without a statistically significant difference (P>0.05) by age or origin. The 15 year old timber of Tabasco had the highest modulus of elasticity at bending (9 479 N mm^-2), shear strength (11.3 N mm^-2), and longitudinal (49 N mm^-2) and lateral (28 N mm^-2) Brinell hardness. On the other hand, the 15 year old timber of Campeche showed higher values for resistance to bending (108 N mm^-2) and longitudinal compression (48 N mm^-2). 21 year old timber of Chiapas exhibited the best results in terms of modulus of elasticity at longitudinal compression (10 920 N mm^-2) and resistance to impact strength (41 kJ m^-2). The 9 year old wood of Campeche was the one with the lowest values in all mechanical assays.

Keywords : Shear strength; longitudinal compression; dimensional stability; impact; DIN norms; Tectona grandis. L. f..