Batai

Albizia (Albizia ferruginea)
Batai (Albizia ferruginea pictured)

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Common Name(s): Batai, Moluccan albizia

Scientific Name: Falcataria moluccana (syn. Albizia falcataria)

Distribution: Southeast Asia and various Pacific/Indian islands

Tree Size: 100-150 ft (30-46 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 22 lbs/ft3 (360 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .32, .36

Janka Hardness: 430 lbf (1,900 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 8,370 lbf/in2 (57.7 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,238,000 lbf/in2 (8.53 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 4,270 lbf/in2 (29.5 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.2%, Tangential: 6.2%, Volumetric: 9.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.9

Color/Appearance: No data available.

Grain/Texture: No data available.

Endgrain: No data available.

Rot Resistance: No data available.

Workability: No data available.

Odor: No data available.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Batai has been reported to cause eye irritation, as well as sneezing. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: No data available.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses: No data available.

Comments: No data available.

Related Species:

Albizia genus (closely related and formerly placed here)

Related Articles:

None available

Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this exact wood species, but a similar species within the Albizia genus is being substituted (A. ferruginea). If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.

Albizia (Albizia ferruginea)
Albizia (sanded)

Albizia (sealed)
Albizia (sealed)
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Gregory Holmberg

Interesting wood. I think it might make a good top for an acoustic guitar. The sound radiation coefficient is R=13.5–better than Engelmann Spruce or Western Red Cedar. I probably can’t find it in the US though.

R = SQRT(E/?^3), where E is the Young’s Modulus (Elastic Modulus) and ? is the density (average dried weight). For example, for Batai, R = SQRT(8,53E9 / 360^3) = 13.5. This is an indication of how loudly a panel will radiate sound.