NATURAL DURABILITY
Based on the standard graveyard test of untreated specimens of dimension 50 mm x 50 mm x 600 mm, the wood is classified as moderately durable
under Malaysian climatic conditions. The average service life for 52 untreated specimens of C. malaccensis was about 4.2 years (Mohd. Dahlan& Tam, in press).
PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT
The timber of kekatong is not amenable to preservative impregnation and is classified as very difficult to treat.
TEXTURE
Texture is moderately fine and uneven, with straight to shallowly interlocked grain.
STRENGTH PROPERTIES
The timber falls into Strength Group A (Engku, 1988b) or SG 2 (MS 544:Part 2:2001).
Strength Properties of Kekatong (C.malaccensis)
Test Condition |
Modulus of Elasticity(MPa) |
Modulus of Rupture(MPa) |
Compression parallel to grain (MPa) |
Compression perpendicular to grain (MPa) |
Shear strength(MPa) |
Green |
17,000 |
105 |
56.0 |
11.03 |
13.2 |
Air dry |
18,400 |
135 |
67.0 |
11.38 |
15.6 |
MACHINING PROPERTIES
It is easy to difficult to resaw and difficult to cross-cut. Planing is easy to slightly difficult and the surface produced is moderately smooth.
Machining Properties of Kekatong (C.Malaccensis)
Test Condition |
Sawing |
Planning |
Boring |
Turning |
|
|
Rip Sawing |
Cross Cutting |
Moderately Easy |
Smooth |
Easy |
Smooth |
Ease of Turning |
Green |
Easy |
Difficult |
Easy |
Moderately Smooth |
Easy |
Smooth to rough |
- |
- |
Air dry |
Difficult |
Difficult |
Slightly difficult |
Moderately Smooth |
Slightly difficult |
Moderately Smooth |
Difficult |
Moderately Smooth |
Nailing Property
Nailing property is rated as poor.
Air drying
The timber seasons moderately slowly without degrade except for some end-checking. 13 mm thick boards take 3 months to air dry, while 38 mm thick boards take 5 months.
Kiln-Drying
Kiln Schedule G is recommended.
Kiln Schedule B
Moisture Content(%) |
Temperature (Dry Bulb) |
Temperature (Wet Bulb) |
Relative Humidity (%)(approx.) |
|
F
|
F
|
F
|
F
|
|
Green |
105 |
40.5 |
101 |
38.0 |
85 |
40 |
105 |
40.5 |
99 |
37.0 |
80 |
30 |
110 |
43.5 |
102 |
39.0 |
75 |
25 |
115 |
46.0 |
105 |
40.5 |
70 |
20 |
130 |
54.5 |
115 |
46.0 |
60 |
15 |
140 |
60.0 |
118 |
47.5 |
50 |
SHRINKAGE
Shrinkage is 1.6% and 2.7% on the radial and tangential surfaces respectively.
DEFECTS
Desch (1941) recorded that pin holes, end splitting and end checks are common in C.malaccensis logs. Occasional spongy heart at the centre of the logs was also observed. The sapwood of C.malaccensis was reported to be very readily attacked by powder-post beetles (Burgess, 1966).
Uses
The timber is suitable for heavy construction under cover, telegraphic and power transmission posts and cross arms, beams, posts, joists, rafters, door and window
frames and sills, flooring (heavy traffic), fender supports, railway sleepers when treated, cooling tower (structural members), staircase (apron linings, balustrades,
newels and stringers), vehicle bodies (framework and floor boards), pallets (heavy duty and permanent tyrpes), tool handles (impact) and laboratory benches.
REFERENCES
Burgess, P. F. 1966. Timber of Sabah. Sabah For. Rec. No. 6.
Desch, H. E. 1941. Manual of Malaysian Timbers. Mal. For. Rec. No. 15 Vol. 1.
Engku Abdul Rahman Chik. 1998b. Basic and Grade Stresses for Strength Groups of Malaysian Timbers. Malayan Forest Service Trade Leaflet No. 38.
The Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. 13 pp.
Menon, P. K. B. 1986. Uses of Some Malaysian Timbers. Revised by Lim, S. C. Timber Trade Leaflet No. 31. The Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Forest Research
Institute Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. 48 pp.
Mohd. DahlanJantan and Tam, M.K. (in press). Natural Durability of Some Malaysian Timbers by Stake Test. Malay. For.
Mohd. ShukariMidon. 1983. Malaysian Timbers - Kekatong. Timber Trade Leaflet No. 79. The Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Forest Research Institute Malaysia,
Kuala Lumpur. 7 pp.
MS 544:Part 2:2001. Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Timber: Permissible Stress Design of Solid Timber.
Wong, T. M. 1982. A Dictionary of Malaysian Timbers. Revised by Lim, S. C. & Chung, R. C. K. Malayan Forest Records No. 30. Forest Research Institute Malaysia,
Kuala Lumpur. 201 pp.