Sudan is endowed by a great diversity of tree species; nevertheless the utilization of wood resources has traditionally concentrated to a few numbers of them. Most of the indigenous hardwood tree species in Sudan are used as charcoal, firewood and fuel wood due to the lake information about their wood properties. There is an urgent need to study the wood properties of the local raw material in order to suggest better uses for their wood than conversion to firewood and charcoal.
Acacia seyal var. seyal trees species is widely distributed and easily to grow on large area in Sudan. Its wood uses concentrate in charcoal, firewood and fuel wood. The information about its wood properties is limited as its uses. The present study was carried out to determine the wood basics density and hardness strength of Acacia seyal var. seyal as well as to assess its suitability for flooring industry. For this purpose, thirty healthy trees were collected randomly from four states in Sudan namely, Blue Nile state, Northern Kordofan state, Southern Kordofan state and white Nile state. Two discs of 10 cm thickness were cut from each tree, the first at 10% from the merchantable height and the second at 90%. Two strips with 3 x 3 x tree diameter in cm (include tree’s pith) were taken from each disc. The wood density was measured based on dry weight and green volume. Brinell hardness test was conducted in both cross and radial sections on the basic of DIN EN 1534 to measure the hardness of the study species.
The results revealed that the wood density and hardness strength of the study species are compatible for flooring industry. Its suitability for such industry can significantly contribute to economic development without fear of exhaustion, as it is renewable under almost all climatic condition in Sudan.
Keywords: Acacia seyal, density, hardness strength
Authors
Gamal H.M.S.
Institute of Forest Utilization and Forest Technology, Department of Forest Sciences, Dresden University of Technology, Tharandt, Germany
University of Khartoum, Department of Forest Products and Industries, Khartoum, Sudan
Bues C.T.
Institute of Forest Utilization and Forest Technology, Department of Forest Sciences, Dresden University of Technology, Tharandt.
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