Teak (Tectona grandis), Sagun/Sagwan, initially introduced in some of the countries mainly for ship building by the colonial powers, is one of the widely used and priced timbers in the world. It grows 100-130 Ft (30-40 Mtr.) tall with trunk diameter of 3-5 Ft (1-1.5 Mtr.) and is distributed widely from the Asian and African, Caribbean, Latin and South American countries such as India, Burma (Mayanmar), Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Ecuador, Tanzania, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Trinidad, Tobago and Venezuela. The grains are straight, occasionally wavy or interlocked, coarse, uneven texture and are resistant to decay and termite attack moderately resistant to marine borers and powder post beetles as its heartwood is very durable. The heartwood is golden or medium brown which darkens with age and despite presence of natural oils Teak usually glues easily and finishes well. The freshly cut timber has a leather-like odour.
Average Dry Weight: 40.9 Lbs/Ft3 (655 Kg/M3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.55, 0.66
Janka Hardness: 1,070 Lbf (4,740 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 14,080 Lbf/in2 (97.1 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,781,000 Lbf/in2 (12.28 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 7,940 Lbf/in2 (54.8 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 2.6%, Tangential: 5.3%,
Volumetric: 7.2%, T/R Ratio: 2
