Jatoba

Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril)

Curbaril, Brazilian cherry, Algarrobo, Jutabi, Jutai

Origin:

Jatoba is a tree with low habitat requirements, preferring sandy, non-waterlogged areas. It grows in lowland and montane rainforests, in periodically moist subtropical forests, and in the gallery forests of South and Central America. The species' range extends from southern Mexico, through Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, to Peru and Brazil. It can also be found on some islands in the Caribbean Sea. It occurs up to an altitude of 900 m above sea level.

Tree habit:

These trees reach a height of 40 metres. They have a straight, cylindrical trunk with high reaching flutes and a diameter of up to 1.5 m (sometimes more). Up to a height of 15 to 20 metres, the trunk is devoid of branches. It is covered with a rather smooth, light brown bark which, thanks to its significant content of terpenes and phenols, protects the plant from various micro-organisms. 

Structure type:

Diffuse-vascular; large vessels mainly distributed singly or in pairs, visible to the naked eye, 0.07 to 0.26 mm in diameter.

Sapwood:

Narrow (6 to 12 cm wide), grey-brown in colour.

Heartwood:

It varies in colour, depending on the growing environment of the trees and, when sawing, on direct sunlight, under whose influence it darkens strongly. The colour varies from yellowish brown, through reddish brown, to dark brown with dark brown strands of up to 1 cm. 

Fragrance:

When dry, it does not emit any odour.

Pattern:

It has a straight or slightly convoluted fibre arrangement. Annual increments are visible on all sections due to the presence of a layer of terminal parenchyma, terminating each grain, visible as lighter lines or narrow strands. The vessels in cross-section are clearly visible due to the presence of the paratracheal winged woody parenchyma and sometimes the vascular fibre. The wood lacks stratified construction. 

Typical defects:

Colour variation, mineral inclusions visible as white spots on tangential section.

Properties of Merbau wood:

According to the six-grade density scale, it is a very heavy wood. The average density for the air-dry state is 950 kg*m³. The wood in question has a low fibre saturation point moisture content of approximately 23%. The average volumetric shrinkage is just under 13%, which, according to Monnin's classification, indicates medium shrinkage wood. In practice, however, Jatoba wood is not a stable species. The high density of the wood is associated with very good mechanical properties, especially as it is a straight-fibred wood. For example, it has an average compressive strength of 80 Mpa, a static crushing strength of 130 Mpa and a modulus of elasticity as high as 17.9 Gpa.

Similar species:

In terms of appearance and properties, Merbau wood, Kurupaya.

Drying:

The natural drying of jatoba wood is slow, with little tendency to crack and warp. 

Working:

Wood is hard and offers considerable resistance to cutting tools, causing them to dull more quickly. After good preparation of the blades, smooth shiny surfaces are achieved after planing. The edges of the elements do not peel off, which is mostly facilitated by the straight fibre arrangement.

Joining:

One- or two-component polyurethane adhesives are recommended for bonding. Joining with nails and screws is very durable. In order to be done correctly, it should be preceded by pre-drilling at the locations of the future fasteners.

Finishing:

Varnishing is relatively easy, with both solvent-based and water-based products. Oiling also presents no difficulties.

Intended use:

veneers, furniture, flooring, interior fittings, high-quality joinery, stairs, musical instruments.

Availability

26 mm – KD – SE edged – 155 mm fix – FAS grade

52 mm – KD – SE edged – FAS grade

• Mechanical properties: Working quite difficult, bonding is good, nailing requires pre-drilling.
• Modulus of elasticity: 18.7 GPa
• Tangential shrinkage: 8.5%
• Radial shrinkage: 4.5%
• Specific gravity: 990 kg/m³ (12%)
• Durability: species resistant to destructive fungal attack
• Dry wood pests: resistant – risk limited to sapwood penetration
• Protections: class 4 – non-accepting