Rubber tree
[Gum-mi-tree]; [Hevea brasiliensis]; trade names: Rubberwood, Parawood, Hevea
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Origin |
Southeast Asia (originally South America) |
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Raw density |
0.65 g/cm³ |
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Durability class |
5 (not permanent) |
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Radial shrinkage |
0,09 % |
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Tangential shrinkage |
0,23 % |
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Wood color |
Light yellowish-white to creamy, darkens to pale yellowish-brown |
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Wood structure |
Uniform, fine to coarse texture with straight grain |
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Use |
Furniture, stairs, floor coverings, moldings, toys, kitchen utensils, fiberboard and chipboard |
The rubber tree, botanically Hevea brasiliensis, is originally native to the Amazon basin, but is now mainly cultivated in extensive plantations in South East Asia. The tree gained its main significance through the extraction of natural rubber (latex) from its latex sap. The wood, known internationally as “rubberwood”, was for a long time a by-product that accumulated at the end of the tree’s 25 to 30-year latex harvest cycle. In the meantime, the rubber tree has established itself due to its positive properties and its sustainable origin established itself as a sought-after raw material for the timber industry. The trees reach heights of 20 to 40 meters and trunk diameters of up to one meter.
The wood of the rubber tree is light yellowish-white to creamy across the entire cross-section and darkens slightly when exposed to light. It has a uniform, fine to medium coarse texture with a predominantly straight grain. With a medium density, it is a medium-weight wood whose hardness is comparable to that of oak comparable to oak. The wood is generally easy to work with; it can be easily sawn, planed, milled and glued. However, nails and screws should be pre-drilled to avoid splitting the wood. It dries quickly, but there is a high risk of cracking and warping. As the wood is very susceptible to fungal and insect infestation (durability class 5), immediate chemical treatment is necessary after felling. Rubberwood is therefore only suitable for indoor use. It is widely used for furniture, stairs, parquet flooring, moldings, toys, kitchen utensils and for the production of chipboard and fiberboard.
Sources: Wikipedia, Tropix (PDF)
