Teak
Description
A dense tropical hardwood obtained from the Tectona grandis tree native to the southeast Asia. Teak is a tall deciduous ( up to 40 m) tree with small fragrant, white flowers. Teak trees have large, papery leaves (up to 45 x 23 cm), with a hairy lower surface. Teak wood has a straight grain and coarse texture and is very resistant to insects and decay. It is used for high quality furniture, veneer, boxes, chests, doors, and shipbuilding. Teak wood has an aromatic smell when cut that it can retain for over a hundred years. The heartwood is yellowish and darkens with age.
Synonyms and Related Terms
common teak (Tectona grandis); Dahat teak (Tectona hamiltoniana); Philippine Teak (Tectona philippinensis); Burmese teak; Nagpur teak; tekka; teck (Fr., It.); Tiekholz (Deut;); teakboom (Ned.); teca (Esp., Port.); teak(Sven.); jati
Other Properties
Extremely resistant to decay.
| Density | 35-55 ppcf |
|---|
Hazards and Safety
Skin contact, especially with sap, may cause irritation
Additional Images
Teak Tectona grandis
Teak (Tectona grandis)
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teak (Accessed Sept. 28, 2005 and April 2020)
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 803
- F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965 Comment: 35-50 ppcf
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "teak (genus Tectona grandis)" Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. [Accessed 28 Sept. 2005].
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=41-55 ppcf (0.66-0.88 g/cm3)