Carpinus betulus

Carpinus betulus L. – European hornbeam

group: 	DIFFUSE-POROUS HARDWOODS

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: 	sapwood

description: 	greyish white to yellowish white colour

rings: 	moderate visible boundary between rings, wavy rings

vessels:	only micro pores in wood (longitudinal sections smooth)

rays: 	aggregate rays, visible in X, R, T (T – several cm long vertical lines, R – irregular shape ray flack)

texture: 	regular, dark stripes of aggregate rays (T); lusterless (R, T) and little decorative wood

Microscopic structure of wood

brief overview: 	Ray 1–2 seriate, HomG* + aggregate rays; wavy rings, simple perforation plate

ring: 	invisible boundary between early and late wood within ring; wavy rings	X

vessel types and arrangements: 	only microvessels; microvessels solitary or in radial multiples (up to 4 and more)	X

type of vessel perforation: 	simple	R

vessel thickenings: 	fine spiral	R, T

rays: 	homogeneous (slightly heterogeneous) + aggregate rays	R, T

width of rays	1–2 (in aggregate rays 1–4)	T, (X)

apotracheal parenchyma: 	marginal, diffuse-in-aggregates	X

tracheids in basic tissue: 	fibre tracheids	R, T

Wood properties

density: 	heavy

ρ 0: 	750 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	790 kg/m3

ρ green: 	1000 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	high

- volumetric (βV): 	17,5 %

- radial (βR): 	6 %

- tangential (βT): 	11,5 %

mechanical properties: 	strong, tough

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	82 MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	160 MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	135 MPa

hardness: 	hard

Janka's hardness: 	90 MPa

technological properties: 	uneasy drying (it's necessary slowly drying; very often formation of crack) and working, no problem with bend and finishing resistance: 	rated as slightly or non-resistant to decay

Wood utilization

production of tools (plane), sports equipment (skittles), parts of musical instruments (piano mechanics), particleboards (chipboard, MDF/HDF – medium/high density fibreboards, OSB – oriented strand boards), chemical and pulp industry, parts of machinery, joiner's and hand tools, small objects (buttons, spools, canes), fuel wood

References