Castanea sativa

'Castanea sativa'' Mill. – Sweet chestnut'''

group: 	RING-POROUS HARDWOODS

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: 	heartwood

description: 	narrow sapwood (1–3 cm), yellowish; heartwood light to dark brown

rings: 	distinct boundary between rings; distinct zone of early wood and late wood in rings

vessels	macro pores in early wood (X – holes, R, T – grooves), micropores in late wood (arrangement)

microvessels arrangement: 	in spreading radial arrangement (W)

rays: 	invisible

texture: 	flatsawn (T), radial figure (R); decorative wood

other: 	vinegary odour; similar to oak; the wood has a corrosive action on metals (iron, steel, lesad), partiularly if the wood ist moist (blue-black colour)

Microscopic structure of wood

brief overview: 	Rays 1 seriate, HomG; microvessels in radial arrangement

ring: 	early wood and late wood very good distinct in rings	X

vessel types and arrangements: 	macrovessels in early wood (slightly numerous, predominantly solitary), microvessels in late wood (arrangement)	X

microvessels arrangement: 	in spreading radial (W)	X

type of vessel perforation: 	simple	R

tyloses: 	frequent in early wood vessels	X, R, T

rays: 	homogeneous	R, T

width of rays	1	T, (X)

apotracheal parenchyma: 	diffuse	X

paratracheal parenchyma: 	slightly numerous – scanty	X

tracheids in basic tissue: 	vascular, vasicentric, fibre tracheids	R, T

Wood properties

density: 	moderate heavy

ρ 0: 	560 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	600 kg/m3

ρ green: 	1060 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	medium

- volumetric (βV): 	10,4 %

- radial (βR): 	3,8 %

- tangential (βT): 	6,6 %

mechanical properties: 	strong, elastic

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	52 MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	77 MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	135 MPa

hardness: 	moderate hard

Janka's hardness: 	51 MPa

technological properties: 	working and finishing without problems; when in contact with iron it resulted in darkening of wood (violet to black colour)

resistance: 	rated as resistant to decay

Wood utilization

similar to oak; furniture, turning work, woodcarving, constructional wood, water constructions, windows, doors, floors, parquet, stairs, poles, mast and tanks

References