IPÊ
Tabebuia spp., Bignoniaceae
Other names:
Ipê-amarelo, ipê-do-cerrado, ipê-pardo, ipê-preto, ipê-roxo, ipê-tabaco, ipê-una, ipeúva, pau-d'arco, pau-d'arco-amarelo, peúva, piúna, piúna-amarela, piúna-roxa, piúva and piúva-do-serrado.
General features:
Heartwood and sapwood differentiated by color, Heartwood brown or brown-kernel with yellowish or greenish reflections, yellowish-white sapwood; non-gloss surface; imperceptible smell and taste; high density; hard to cut; irregular grain to be reverse; fine texture.
Durability and Treatment:
Natural durability: Ipe wood, in laboratory tests, has been shown to be highly resistant to attack by xylophagous organisms (fungi and termites). In an experiment carried out in the marine environment it was moderately attacked by perforating organisms. In field trials, with stakes in contact with the soil, the average life span was 8 to 9 years. In practical observations, it is considered very resistant to decay.
Natural durability: Ipe wood, in laboratory tests, has been shown to be highly resistant to attack by xylophagous organisms (fungi and termites). In an experiment carried out in the marine environment it was moderately attacked by perforating organisms. In field trials, with stakes in contact with the soil, the average life span was 8 to 9 years. In practical observations, it is considered very resistant to decay.
Treatability: under pressure treatment it proved to be impermeable to preservative solutions.
Processing Characteristics:
Workability: wood ipe is easy planing, sawing, sanding, drilling, nailing, collar and turning. Presents good finish in some cases there may be oozing resin.
Workability: wood ipe is easy planing, sawing, sanding, drilling, nailing, collar and turning. Presents good finish in some cases there may be oozing resin.
Drying: Air-drying is medium to fast and has small cracking and warping problems. Artificial drying using oven can aggravate the incidence of defects.
Physical properties
Mass Density – Apparent at 15% humidity: 1010 kg/m³ / Basic: 840 kg/m³
Shrinkage – Radial: 4.0% / Tangential 5.9% / Volumetric 10.9%
Applications
Construction:
• External heavyweight: bridges, railroad tie, crossbars, fenders
• Internal heavyweight: beams, rafters
• Lightweight in frames: doors, windows
• Internal lightweight, decorative: trims, baseboards, linings, wainscoting
Floors:
• Boards
• Sticks
• Parquets
• Stair Steps
Furniture:
• High quality: decorative pieces of furniture
Other uses:
• Sporting goods and toys
• Tool Cables
• Agricultural implements
• Turned parts
• Transport
• Musical instruments or part of them
