BALSAM - CABREUVA - ESTORAQUE (PERÚ)
TECHNICAL CARD
| Species : | Myroxylon balsamum (L). Harms |
| Family : | Fabaceae - papilionoideae |
| Synonym : | Myroxylon foleiferum H.B.K. |
| Commun Names : | Perú: estoraque, quina quina, Argentina: incienso Paraguay: incienso colorado. Bolivia: quina, palo trébol, bálsamo. Brazil: pau de bálsamo, oleo vermelho. Colombia: bálsamo de Tolú. Ecuador: sandalo, bálsamo. Venezuela: quina morada, estoraque. |
| International Business Name : |
Bálsamo. |
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPECIES
Geographical distribution: the distribution of the species was obtained from literature and herbal reports within the provinces of Loreto, Ucayali , San Martin, Madre de Dios and Huanuco, between 0 and 3280 feet above sea level. Average amounts of this species can be found in the Peruvian Amazon.
The tree: 25 mt (82 feet) tall in average and 22mt (72 feet) tall commercially, 0,70mt (28 inches) diameter. Straight and cylinder-like trunk. Bark depicts long, rough cracks, sometimes diffused and others in rows. An asphyxiating smell is expelled by the resin that oozes down. Presence of semi-circular edges.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WOOD
Color: When fresly cut, sapwwod (alburnum) is creamy white and hardwoood (duramen) is reddish brown. Abrupt contract of colors between both layers. When dried in open air, laburnum truns pale yello HUE 8/4 2.5Y AND DURAMEN TURNS REDDISH BROWN HUE 4/4 5YR. (Munsell Soil Color Charts).
| Fragrance: | Distinctive, pleasant when sawed. |
| Shine or gloss: | Medium to high. |
| Grain: | Interbred. |
| Texture: | Medium to Delicate. |
| Streaks or patterns: | Narrow parallel bands, overlapped arches. |
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Physical Properties
| Primary density : | 0,78 gr/cm3 |
| Tangencial contraction : | 6,52 % |
| Radial contraction : | 4,16 % |
| Volumetric contraction : | 9,97 % |
| T/R Ratio : | 1,56 |
Mechanical Properties
| Module of elasticity in flexion : | 175 000 kg/cm 2 |
| Module of breakage in flexion : | 1 340 kg/cm 2 |
| Parallel compression (RM) : | 714 kg/cm 2 |
| Perpendicular compression (ELP) : | 130 kg/cm 2 |
| Grain-parallel cut : | 163 kg/cm 2 |
| Hardness on the sides : | 1 143 kg/cm 2 |
| Firmness (Resistence to impact) : | 6,60 Kg - m |
TECHNICAL ADVICE
Estoraque is a heavy type of Wood that shows low linear shrinkage and stable volumetric shrinkage. Mechanical resistance is ranked as high. Wood is moderately difficult to saw, but its mechanic properties are high. Slow natural drying process, wood performs well when artificially dried in a mild setting. Alburnum is prone to biological attack and duramen shows high natural durability and does not require preservation.
USES
Wood can be used in floors, wooden floor tiles, railway sleepers, fences, crossbeams, construction of heavy structures, car bodies, underwater piles, tool handles and sports gear.
