Toppers
What is Jatoba?
Jatoba, also known as Brazilian cherry or courbaril, is a durable hardwood from the tropical highland forests of South and Central America, primarily from Brazil. It is known for its beautiful orange-red to reddish-brown heartwood and pinkish-white sapwood. Jatoba is popular for both indoor and outdoor applications due to its durability and attractive appearance.
Origin
Jatoba is the commercial name for wood from the botanical species Hymenaea spp., mainly Hymenaea courbaril L. It belongs to the family of Leguminosae – Caesalpiniaceae. In Belgium, Jatoba is primarily imported from Brazil.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Hymenaea courbaril L. |
| Origin | Tropical highland forests of South and Central America, mainly Brazil |
Appearance and Structure
The Jatoba tree typically grows to a height of 30 to 40 meters, with a clear trunk of 18 to 24 meters. The trunk has a diameter of 60 to 90 cm, sometimes up to 150 cm. The base of the trunk is swollen.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Height | 30-40 meters |
| Clear trunk | 18-24 meters |
| Diameter | 60-90 cm (sometimes up to 150 cm) |
Color and Grain
The heartwood of Jatoba is orange-red to reddish-brown, ranging from uniform reddish-brown to reddish nut color. The sapwood is pinkish-white. Jatoba has a straight grain, sometimes with interlocked grain, and a moderately fine texture. Occasionally, a veined pattern is visible. When beautifully finished, Jatoba has a lovely sheen.
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Heartwood | Orange-red to reddish-brown |
| Sapwood | Pinkish-white |
| Grain | Straight grain, sometimes interlocked grain, moderately fine texture, occasionally veined pattern |
Durability
Jatoba is durable with a natural durability class II for the heartwood. The sapwood is not durable and falls into natural durability class V.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Durability class (heartwood) | II |
| Durability class (sapwood) | V |
Drying and Processing
Jatoba dries slowly but with little risk of distortion. It is easy to work with and can be beautifully finished smooth. For interlocked grain, the cutting angle should be adjusted. Pre-drilling is recommended.
| Drying | Description |
|---|---|
| Drying time | Slow, with little risk of distortion |
| Processing | Easy to work with, adjust cutting angle for interlocked grain, pre-drilling recommended |
Finishing
Jatoba contains water-soluble extractives that can sometimes cause stains. Solvent-based products can be used for a good finish. For water-based products, a sealer (filler) is needed to prevent leaching of extractives.
Technical Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Average density | 900 kg/m³ |
| Radial shrinkage (60-30% r.h.) | 0.7% |
| Radial shrinkage (90-60% r.h.) | 0.6% |
| Tangential shrinkage (60-30% r.h.) | 1% |
| Tangential shrinkage (90-60% r.h.) | 1.2% |
| Movement (60-30% r.h.) | 1.7% |
| Movement (90-60% r.h.) | 1.8% |
| Bending strength | 134 N/mm² |
| Modulus of elasticity | 15,000 N/mm² |
| Compressive strength (parallel to the grain) | 66 N/mm² |
| Shear strength | 17.2 N/mm² |
| Hardness (Janka) – End | 11,200 N |
| Hardness (Janka) – Side | 10,400 N |
Commercial Dimensions
| Thickness | Fixed widths | Lengths |
|---|---|---|
| 26 mm | 80/105/130/155/180/205 mm | 185 cm and longer, averaging 275 cm and longer |
| 65 mm | 90/130/155/180/205 mm | 185 cm and longer, averaging 275 cm and longer |
| 40/52/65 mm | Variable widths from 15.5 cm (with 10-15% from 10 to 14 cm) | 185 cm and longer, averaging 275 cm and longer |
| 40/52 mm | Variable widths from 23 cm (with 10-15% from 10 to 22 cm) | 185 cm and longer, averaging 275 cm and longer |
| 80 mm | Available in lengths of 60 cm and longer |
Applications
Jatoba is suitable for various applications:
- Indoor: (Heavily trafficked) parquet and plank floors, stair treads, furniture, moldings, knobs, turning, carving, and sculpture.
- Outdoor: Windows, doors, facade cladding.
- Other: Shipbuilding (keels, edges), (fresh) water works, bridge decks.
Conclusion
Jatoba is a durable and versatile hardwood with an attractive appearance. It is ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications thanks to its durability, ease of processing, and beautiful finish.