Botanically, Santa Maria (Calophyllum brasilense) belongs to the Guttiferaceae family. The genus Calophyllum is widespread in tropical Latin America, but is also found in Southeast Asia and on the Pacific islands. This is a different species, namely Calophyllum kajewski (Bintangor) with a comparable wood appearance and characteristics. The international trade name for woods of the Calophyllum genus is “Bintangor”.
Heartwood light red to reddish brown, darkening in the light. Sapwood narrow and pale pink. Pores medium-sized and conspicuously oval, always solitary and hyaline, partly filled with light-colored contents, often grouped in radial arrangements along the medullary rays. Medullary rays of Santa Maria are practically unrecognizable in radial section. storage cells tangentially as fine bands (fringes). Fiber course partly straight, partly alternating.
In comparison: Santa Maria –
Meranti – Cedro
The average density at 12-15% wood moisture is 0.62-0.67 t/m3, fluctuations of 0.56 – 0.70 t/m3 can occur. The bulk density thus corresponds to the former “Dark Red Meranti”. The shrinkage from the fresh state to u=12% is specified as 5.3% tangential and 3.9% radial. Santa Maria has good staying power, which can be further increased by layering. Santa Maria can be dried without cracking in dimensions up to approx. 52 mm thick and can be processed with all tools without difficulty, provided that the grain is parallel to the cutting direction. Decorative and smooth surfaces can then be created. Application of water-based glazes is unproblematic.
The modulus of elasticity is 11,300-13,700 N/mm2.
Santa Maria is weather-resistant and is classified in durability class 2.
Construction timber as framing timber, in particular multi-layered for windows and doors, as well as general exterior and interior finishing timber.
Dark Red Meranti, Niangon, afric. Mahogany (Sipo, Khaya).
Wood Information Service, Fact Sheet No. 47, 1978
ATIBT 1990: Atlas de Maderas Tropicales de América Latina
Gütegemeinschaft Fenster & Haustüren, Frankfurt (2005) Approval of Bintangor
Note: according to the latest findings, but excluding any liability
