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TABEBUIA SERRATIFOLIA
- IPE. Common name:
Surinam greenheart, greenheart, ipe, pau d' arco, lapacho, amapa,
cortez, tahuari, groenhart, brazilian walnut, ironwood.Family: bignoniaceae (bignonia family). General description. Ipe is one of the hardest and densest of all hardwoods available from Surinam. The heartwood is olive to dark brown with striping. The sapwood, which is sharply demarcated from the heartwood, is lighter; white to yellow. This tropical hardwood has a fine texture; the surface is sometimes covered with a yellowish powder (lapachol). The tight grain that is interlocked, makes it virtually waterproof! After some time, Ipe will darken to a medium - to dark brown color. ipe is very resistant against decay, marine borers and termites. Freezing and thawing have no effect on Ipe. Technological. Ipe is, due to its high density, naturally resitant to fire (NFPA class A fire rating and UBC Class 1 rating). Drying: ried to approximately 15 % Stiffness (1000 lb.): 3,129 Bending strength: 18,800 psi hardness (lb.): 3,684 Shearing strengthL 2048 Modulus of elasticity: 1,000 psi Specific gravity: 1 #cu.ft./weight: 69 #cu.ft./density 62 Processing. Sawing: carbide tipped blades and high quality drill bits are recommended. Fasteners: galvanized or stainless steel are recommended for pre - drilling. Maintenance. Ipe does not need sealing, treatment or preservatives; due its own phyto-chemicals it stays very smooth for many, longer than 25 +, years. As such it requires very little maintenance. Uses. Decking, industrial & decorative flooring, naval construction, tool - handles carpentry, turnery, joinery (internal & external), bridge construction, garden furniture, sleepers, boardwalks and piers.
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