Products - Ekki

Lophira alata Ekki/Azobe Family: Ochnaceae Other Common Names: Bongossi, Bakundu (Cameroon), Kaku (Ghana), Esore (Ivory Coast), EKKI (Nigeria), Endwi (Sierra Leone). Distribution: West Africa and extending into the Congo Basin; occurs in evergreen and moist deciduous forests, in freshwater swamp forests, and close to riverbanks.

The Tree: May attain a height of 160 ft with a long clear bole to 100 ft; trunk diameters 5 to 6 ft; without buttresses but lower portion of the bole sometimes swollen.

General Characteristics: Heartwood dark red, chocolate brown, or purple brown with conspicuous white deposits in the vessels; sapwood up to 2 in. wide, pale pink, well defined.

Texture: Coarse; grain usually interlocked; luster low; without characteristic odor or taste.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) about 0.90; air-dry density 70 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (2-cm standard)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

Green (9) 17,800 2,010 9,920

12% 25,800 2,450 13,120

12% (47) 33,200 3,180 15,200

Janka side hardness 2,900 lb for green material and 3,350 lb for dry. Amsler toughness 625 in.-lb at 12% moisture content (2-cm specimen).

Drying and Shrinkage: Very difficult to season without excessive degrade, particularly surface and end checking; dries slowly. Kiln schedule T2-C2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T2-C1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 8.4%; tangential 11.0%; volumetric 17.0%. Movement in service is rated as medium.

Working Properties: Very difficult to work with hand and machine tools; severe blunting effect if machined when dry; can be dressed to a smooth finish; gluing properties usually good.

Durability: Heartwood is rated as very durable but only moderately resistant to termite attack. Resistant to acids. Good weathering properties. Resistant to Teredo attack.

Preservation: Heartwood is rated as extremely resistant to preservative treatments and the sapwood resistant.

Uses: Heavy durable construction work, harbor work, heavy-duty flooring, parquet flooring, railroad crossties.

Tradecorp Group's Comments - One of the most durables species in the world. Especially suitable for boat building, water-construction, railway-sleepers and flooring.