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Fibre, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ghanaian Hardwoods

Received: 15 May 2014     Accepted: 3 June 2014     Published: 20 June 2014
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Abstract

Wood fibre properties (fiber length, fiber width, cell wall thickness and lumen diameter), physical (oven-dry density) and mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, compression parallel to the grain) of four tropical hardwood species (Terminalia superba (Ofram) and Terminalia ivorensis (Emere), as currently threatened timber species and Quassia undulata ( Hotrohotro) and Recinodendron heudelotii(Wama) as lesser used timber species were investigated to measure and compare their timber properties as potential substitutes. Tree normal trees of each tree species were selected and log samples were cut at the middle portion of stem height to determine the properties. The study revealed that, the densities, compression parallel to grain, modulus of rapture and modulus of elasticity of Ofram and Hortrohotro were not significant, but that of Emere and Wama were significant. The modulus of elasticity of Emere was however not significant. Based on these findings Hortrohotro could be substituted for Ofram and Emere with Wama.

Published in Journal of Energy and Natural Resources (Volume 3, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11
Page(s) 25-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Fiber, Hardwood, Mechanical Properties, Lumen

References
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[2] De Guth, E.B., (1980), Relationship between wood density and tree diameter in Pinus elliottii of Missiones Argentina. IUFRO Conf. Div. 5 Oxford, England. 1p (Summary).
[3] ID Cave and JCF Walker, Stiffness of wood in fast grown plantation softwoods: the influence of microfibril angle. Forest Prod. J. 44(5), 43-48, 1994.
[4] R.M. Roque, M.T. Filho, Relationships between anatomical features and intra-ring wood density profiles in Gmelina arborea applying x-ray densitometry. Cerne 13:384–392, 2007.
[5] G. Nepveu, Croissance et qualite´ du bois de framire´. Evolution de la largeur de cerne et des composantes densitome´triques en fonction de l’age. Bois et Foreˆts des Tropiques 165: 39–58. 1976.
[6] J.D. Brazier and R.S. Howell, The use of a breast height core for estimating selected whole tree properties of Sitka spruce. Forestry. 52(2), 177-185, 1979..
[7] J.D. Brazier and R.S. Howell, The use of a breast height core for estimating selected whole tree properties of Sitka spruce. Forestry. 52(2), 177-185, 1979Cown, D.J, (1992) Core wood (Juvenile Wood) in Pinus radiata- should we be concerned? New Zealand J. Forestry Sci. 22(1), 87-95.
[8] E.W.J. Philips, The inclination of the fibrils in the cell wall and its relation to the compression strength of timber. Empire Forestry J. 20, 74-78, 1941.
[9] E.W.J. Philips, The inclination of the fibrils in the cell wall and its relation to the compression strength of timber. Empire Forestry J. 20, 74-78, 1941.
[10] C, Harvald and P.O. Olesen, The variation of the basic density within the juvenile wood of Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis). Scand. J. Forest Res. 2, 525-537, 1987.
[11] Cown, D.J, (1992) Core wood (Juvenile Wood) in Pinusradiata- should we be concerned? New Zealand J. Forestry Sci. 22(1), 87-95.
[12] Schniewind, A.P., (1989). Concise encyclopedia of wood and wood-based materials. Pergamon Press. pp: 248.
[13] G. Nepveu, Croissance et qualite´ du bois de framire´. Evolution de la largeur de cerne et des composantes densitome´triques en fonction de l’age. Bois et Foreˆts des Tropiques 165: 39–58, 1976.
[14] A. J. Pan,shin, and C. de Zeeuw , C Desch, H.E. and Dinwoodie, J.M., (1996), Timber Structure, Properties, Conversion and Use. MacMillan Press, London.
[15] J.D. Brazier and R.S. Howell, The use of a breast height core for estimating selected whole tree properties of Sitka spruce. Forestry. 52(2), 177-185, 1979
[16] Zhang, S.Y., (1997) Wood quality: its definition, impact and implications for value-added timber management and end uses. In Timber Management Toward Wood Quality and End-Product Value.
[17] S.Y. Zhang, R. Gosselin and G. Chauret (eds). Proceedings of the CTIA/IUFRO International Wood Quality Workshop, Quebec City. Part I, pp. 17–39
[18] K.W. Maun (1992), Sitka spruce for construction timber: the relationship between wood growth characteristics and machine grade yields of Sitka spruce. Forestry Commission Research Information Note No. 212. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh
[19] Phongphaew, P., 2003. The commercial woods of Africa. Linden Publishing, Fresno, California, United States. 206 pp.
[20] S. Dudek,, B. Förster, and, K. Klissenbauer, 1981. Lesser known Liberian timber species. Description of physical and mechanical properties, natural durability, treatability, workability and suggested uses. GTZ, Eschborn, Germany. 168 pp
[21] H.G. Richter, and M.J. Dallwitz, Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. 2000. [Internet]. Version 18th October 2002. http://delta-intkey.com/wood/index.htm. Accessed May 2005.
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  • APA Style

    Emmanuel Tete Okoh. (2014). Fibre, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ghanaian Hardwoods. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources, 3(3), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11

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    ACS Style

    Emmanuel Tete Okoh. Fibre, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ghanaian Hardwoods. J. Energy Nat. Resour. 2014, 3(3), 25-30. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11

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    AMA Style

    Emmanuel Tete Okoh. Fibre, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ghanaian Hardwoods. J Energy Nat Resour. 2014;3(3):25-30. doi: 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11,
      author = {Emmanuel Tete Okoh},
      title = {Fibre, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ghanaian Hardwoods},
      journal = {Journal of Energy and Natural Resources},
      volume = {3},
      number = {3},
      pages = {25-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jenr.20140303.11},
      abstract = {Wood fibre properties (fiber length, fiber width, cell wall thickness and lumen diameter), physical (oven-dry density) and mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, compression parallel to the grain) of four tropical hardwood species (Terminalia superba (Ofram) and Terminalia ivorensis (Emere), as currently threatened timber species and Quassia undulata ( Hotrohotro) and Recinodendron heudelotii(Wama) as lesser used timber species were investigated to measure and compare their timber properties as potential substitutes. Tree normal trees of each tree species were selected and log samples were cut at the middle portion of stem height to determine the properties. The study revealed that, the densities, compression parallel to grain, modulus of rapture and modulus of elasticity of Ofram and Hortrohotro were not significant, but that of Emere and Wama were significant. The modulus of elasticity of Emere was however not significant. Based on these findings Hortrohotro could be substituted for Ofram and Emere with Wama.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Fibre, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ghanaian Hardwoods
    AU  - Emmanuel Tete Okoh
    Y1  - 2014/06/20
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11
    T2  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    JF  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    JO  - Journal of Energy and Natural Resources
    SP  - 25
    EP  - 30
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7404
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jenr.20140303.11
    AB  - Wood fibre properties (fiber length, fiber width, cell wall thickness and lumen diameter), physical (oven-dry density) and mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, compression parallel to the grain) of four tropical hardwood species (Terminalia superba (Ofram) and Terminalia ivorensis (Emere), as currently threatened timber species and Quassia undulata ( Hotrohotro) and Recinodendron heudelotii(Wama) as lesser used timber species were investigated to measure and compare their timber properties as potential substitutes. Tree normal trees of each tree species were selected and log samples were cut at the middle portion of stem height to determine the properties. The study revealed that, the densities, compression parallel to grain, modulus of rapture and modulus of elasticity of Ofram and Hortrohotro were not significant, but that of Emere and Wama were significant. The modulus of elasticity of Emere was however not significant. Based on these findings Hortrohotro could be substituted for Ofram and Emere with Wama.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Furniture Design and Production, Accra Polytechnic, P O Box GP 561, Accra, Ghana

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