Purperhart (Purpleheart)

Peltogyne purpurea

Commercial Name(s): Purpleheart, Amarante
Other Name(s): Guarabu, Pau Roxo, Tananeo, Purpleheart, Bois Violet, Purperhart, Zapatero, Amaranth, Ipe Roxo, Roxinho, Koroborelli, Amarante, Nazanero, Morado, Violettholz, Alastan, Simirirang, Karawai Amarante, Bois violet, Pau roxo, Ipê roxo, Morada, Tananeo, Zapatero, Algarrosito, Nazareno.
Botanical Name: Peltogyne spp., (Peltogyne confertiflora, Peltogyne paniculat, Peltogyne purpurea, Peltogyne venosa)
Botanical Family: Leguminosae (Cesalpinioideae), Caesalpiniaceae
SBB Code: PRH

Shrinkage Radial (RS)
4.4%
ShrinkageTangential (TS)
6.7%
Coeff. Volumetric Shrinkage
0.58%

Profile

Purpleheart ´s heartwood has directly after moulding a pale brown colour, which quickly changes to purple after exposure. In time it darkens to dark brown with light. There is a possible presence of internal stresses. It has a fine stripy pattern, and a slight lustre. Amarante/Purpleheart is a species with a tendency to bleed. The sapwood is easy to distinguish. The grain is straight and the texture is fine to medium. Density at 12 % moisture content: 0.87 g/cm3.Machining goes well with a smooth result but requires power. Finishing and gluing are in accordance with the Dutch regulations for windows and doors. Pre-drilling is recommended. Purpleheart dries normal to slowly with a tension to small surface checking. Gum veins can be found in some botanical species, showing a pattern of stripes on the surface. Sometimes these veins can bleed, also after finishing.

Purpleheart fulfills the regulation of the Dutch KOMO certification for windows and doors.
It is durable to moderately durable in ground contact and it is durable to dry wood borers; sapwood demarcated (risk limited to sapwood). Resistance to decay: moderate to good.

This exclusive species is used for several purposes such as:
• interior: e.g. parquet, high class furniture, musical instruments, sculptures, panelling, sliced veneer, stairs, flooring, joinery, wood ware, tool handles, high class coffins.
• exterior: e.g. boardwalks, gardens, ship building piles, bridge constructions, flooring, joinery, panelling, heavy carpentry, vehicle or container flooring

In the USA, Purpleheart/Amarante is used to make high class coffins.

Typical use

Cabinetwork (high class furniture), Sliced veneer, Sculpture, Ship building (ribs), Exterior joinery, Stairs (inside), Glued laminated, Interior joinery, Musical instuments, Tool handles (resilient woods), Current furniture or furniture components, Interior panelling, Flooring, Ship building (planking and deck), Exterior panelling, Heavy carpentry, Vehicle or container flooring, Turned goods, Wood-ware.


Technical Information

Color: Grayish/purplish brown to deep eggplant purple
Trees Size: 30 – 50 m
Trunk Diameter: 0.5 – 1.00 m
Monnin Hardness: 7.6
Crushing Strength (Mpa): 71 – 89
Basic Specific gravity: 0.79 – 0.95
Density (kg/m3): 0.87
Grain: Usually straight
Texture: Medium to fine
Static bending strength (Mpa): 141
Modulus of elasticy (Mpa): 21250
T/R Ratio: 1.5
Finish: Excellent
Stability: Moderately stable


Get more technical information about Purperhart-Purpleheart …


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