WOOD PRODUCTS  
 
Carefully selected trees from pre-identified rubber wood plantations from Central Kerala are subjected to chemical impregnation with chemicals such as Boric Acid and Borax in the prescribed ratio in a chamber using vacuum pressure process and then seasoned in Kilns with controlled temperature and humidity. The moisture content of the wood is reduced to the atmospheric level of 6 to 8 %. The chemical impregnation protects the wood from wood decaying / destroying agents like fungi, insects such as termites, beetles etc. The seasoning prevents the wood from defects like cupping, warping, etc.
  
     
 
Color : Cream to pale straw colour.
Structure : Very uniform wood structure.
Figure : Cross section shows vague concentric markings which resemble growth rings. The markings combined with the large vessels visible to the eye gives the timber an attractive appearance.
Chemical Composition : Similar to that of hard wood, but has a higher content of extractive compounds, starch and soluble carbohydrates.
Weight : Comparable to oak and teak with a density of 0.55 to 0.65 gm/cm3.
Strength : Fairly good. Binding strength N/mm2:65
Modulus of elasticity N/mm2 : 9250.
Compression parallel to grain N/mm2 : 32
Shrinkage : The shrinkage is very small and comparable to teak.
Shrinkage (green to oven-dry).
Tangential : 5.5%
Radial : 2.5%
 
  The Workability :  
 
Sawing : Easy to saw. The sawn surface is fairly smooth.
Machining : Easy to machine, plane and turn.
Nailing : Good nailing properties.
Gluing : Good gluing characteristics compatible with all normal industrial adhesives. High bonding strength.
Wood Bending : Moderate wood bending properties. With a 25mm thickness, the bending radius is approximately 500mm. After setting, the bends are very stable.
Staining : Due to its light colour and very uniform structure, the wood can be stained easily to any desired colour and finish.
 
 
Comparative suitability indices of Indian Rubber wood and other
Kerala species with respect to teak as 100
  
 
Species Trade Name
Hevea brasiliensis
 Rubber wood 93 62 77 52 75 92 74 75 . .
Other Species
Acrocarpus fraxinifolicius Mundani 100 101 111 103 101 114 98 80 88 99
Callophyllum lomentosum Poon 102 84 83 83 82 93 101 56 67 92
Chlorophora excelsa Iroko 70 61 57 59 52 55 57 57 82 68
Cullenea excelsa Karani 92 97 109 102 98 61 77 45 75 90
Dichopsis elliptica Pali 90 94 109 97 92 75 84 61 70 90
Dipterocarpus bourdiloni Gurjan 103 96 117 94 78 74 67 61 58 97
Grewia tilaefolia Dhaman 116 113 125 127 133 120 144 80 64 110
Hopea glabra Hopea 150 130 137 132 144 157 205 53 65 147
Lagerstroemia lanceolata Benteak 91 83 99 88 102 81 81 61 70 85
Polyalthia fragrans Nedunar 76 70 82 75 59 61 54 45 74 75
Terminalia tomentosa Laurel 133 87 96 907 98 106 152 72 65 12
 
  The Comparison : Processed rubberwood is as durable as teakwood and yet costs much less  
 
  Teakwood Treated Rubberwood
Specific gravity 0.604 0.557
Weight (kg/m2) 676 624
Compression perpendicular to the grain (kg/cm2) 101 101
Permissible stress along grain (kg/cm2) 153 126
 
  Production Facilities :  
 
Saw Mill Impregnation Chamber
1 vertical band saw   2.5 cbm/charge
1 Re saw 2 cross cut saws   4 charges / day
Current Production capacity Export capacity
1200 cbm / annum (100 cbm/month)   2 containers / month – 40 cbm
Indigenous Machinery
 Imported Machinery:
Chain Mortising Machine   Wadkin GD4 - 4 Side Planer / Moulder
Surface cum Thickness Planner   Wadkin Automatic Router Machine
Spindle Moulder.   Wide Belt Sander.
Dehumidifier   PICO –Balestrini Tenoning Machine
Several Drilling Machines and Sandering Machines   MICRON-Balestrini Chisel Mortising Machine.
      Excellent Automatic Copy Shaper
Kilns  
2 nos. (each of 14/15 cbm capacity)    
 
     
     

 
           
   
© Deepa Panels.