Kapur or Keruing(Dryobalanops aromatica) belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family, which also includes the dark Meranti species. The name Kapur is used in Indonesia, Malaysia and Europe. In Sabah, kapur is one of the most common tree species in the mountain forest.
The heartwood of Kapur has a grey-brown to reddish-brown color and is of a plain, inconspicuous appearance. The structure of the wood is homogeneous and dense. Straight fibers, hardly any twisted growth. The pores are coarse and scattered. Resin channels are arranged along the pores, from which an aromatic resin evaporates. However, resin exudation tends to be flat and not in galls as with larch. Kapur is also known as “Borneo camphor wood” because of its aromatic smell. Infestation of fresh wood insects frequent.
Kapur is a medium-weight wood with a density of 0.80 – 0.85 t/m3 at a wood moisture content of 12% and a modulus of elasticity of approx. 19,000 N/mm2. The durability of Kapur is good, comparable to oak. The shrinkage and swelling is relatively high (radial 4%, tangential 8%). Kapur is prone to end and surface cracking with thick cross-sections. Drying is not unproblematic and takes time. If possible, machine with carbide-tipped tools. Kapur is weatherproof, but impregnation is recommended for permanent contact with the ground.
Kapur tends to “bleed” when fresh, i.e. water-soluble substances are excreted which dissolve in the surface of the wood when it rains.
If installed close to external plaster surfaces and above galvanized steel structures, constructive precautions must be taken to prevent soiling.
Bongossi, Bilinga, etc.
| Sources: |
GOTTWALD (1970) Wood identification of the most important commercial timbers INFORMATION SERVICE WOOD, leaflet no. 49 WAGENFÜHR (1986): Wood atlas |
