ASSESSMENT ON ANATOMICAL AND PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GROWN NEWBOULDIA LAEVIS (P. BEAUV.) AND ANINGERIA ROBUSTA (AUBREV. AND PELLEGR.) IN NIGERIA FOR UTILIZATION POTENTIALS

Abstract

Nigerian grown Newbouldia laevis and Aningeria robusta were investigated in this study. The densities of the wood at the green condition and 12% moisture content were assessed. The other properties such as modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, compression, shear, impact bending, fibre diameter, cell wall thickness, fibre length, lumen width, Runkel ratio, flexibility, wall fraction, felting power and wall rigidity were determined. The results show that densities at the green and 12% MC for Newbouldia laevis and Aningeria robusta falls between the ranges of 0.49 to 0.69 g/cm3 and 0.49 to 0.55 g/cm3. The mechanical properties for the wood species range from 3177.22 to 8425.37 Nmm-2, 59.09 to 86.27 Nmm-2, 25.96 to 39.49 Nm, 16.05 to 38.96 Nmm-2 and 5.72 to 10.89 N/mm-2 for modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, compression, torsion and shear strength. The anatomical properties for the wood species range from 0.90 to 1.28 mm, 17.36 to 25.57 mm, 10.70 to 16.94 m, 3.63 to 4.31, 0.61 to 1.25, 0.35 to 25.95, 0.58 to 18.43, 0.05 to 4.27 and 0.18 to 0.97 for fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width, cell wall thickness, Runkel ratio, wall fraction, flexibility, felting power and wall rigidity. Significant differences exist in the main factor (specie, wood portion and stem portion) for anatomical properties, compression and shear strength. The outcome of properties found in Newbouldia laevis was similar to other species like Mansonia altissima and Gmelina arborea while Aningeria robusta displayed the same properties with species like Tectona grandis and Pinus palula. This study revealed the properties of grown wood species and their purposes for utilization potentials when compared with other highly used wood species. The findings show that Newbouldia laevis and Aningeria robusta can be used for construction, general carpentry, decorative veneer, flooring and musical instruments.

Keywords

• newbouldia laevis
• aningeria robusta
• anatomical properties
• physical properties
• nigeria
• veneer
• species