IROKO

Family : MORACEAE
Scientific name : MILICIA EXCELSA / REGIA

WOOD DESCRIPTION

  • Reference colour: yellow brown
  • Sapwood: quite distinct
  • Grain: coarse
  • Grain: counter-grain
  • Counter grain: light

Yellow brown to more or less dark brown with golden highlights. Ribboned appearance on quarter, darker veins on back. Very hard white concretions may be present; sometimes a darker hue surrounds them.

PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

These properties can vary significantly depending on the origin and growing conditions of the wood.

  • Density*: 0.64
  • Monnin* hardness: 4.1
  • Volume shrinkage coefficient: 0.44
  • Stability in service: moderately stable
  • Total radial shrinkage: 3.5
  • Fibre saturation point: 23
  • Total tangential shrinkage: 5.4
    (*: 12% moisture content)

NATURAL DURABILITY AND IMPREGNABILITY OF WOOD

  • Fungi: cl 1-2 very durable to durable
  • Dry wood insects: durable; sapwood distinct (risk limited to sapwood)
  • Termites: class D – durable
  • Impregnability: 4 – not impregnable
  • Biological risk class: 3 – out of contact with the ground, unsheltered

Iroko wood (heartwood) does not meet biological risk class 4, which is required for use in contact with a source of permanent moisture (e.g. contact with soil). However, in the absence of water traps and for a well-drained construction system, this species can be used outdoors without treatment.

SAWING AND MACHINING

  • Sharpening effect: fairly high
  • Sawing teeth: stellite-tipped teeth
  • Machining tools: tungsten carbide
  • Concretions in some logs cause severe damage to tools. Very irritating dust. Risk of tearing (regular grain).

ASSEMBLY

  • Nailing – Screwing: good hold
  • Gluing: correct

END-USES

Pore filler recommended. Wood sometimes resistant to finishing products. You should therefore use paints or varnishes that that do not contain free drying oils, i.e. paints or varnishes based on synthetic resins such as vinyl paints or resin-based paints or varnishes such as vinyl paints or polyurethane varnishes, which can also be used as a primer.

  • exterior and interior joinery
  • parquet flooring – shipbuilding
  • panelling – turned items
  • furniture
  • staircase

Main known uses to be validated by application in accordance with the rules of the trade. Important note: some uses are mentioned for information only.

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