Scientific name: Peltogine spp.
Origin: Central & South America
Local names: amaranth, раu гохо, koroboreli
Description: The hcartwood is a deep purple-violet when freshly cut, maturing to a dark brown; the original colour is restored when re-cut. Straight grained, but often irregular, wavy, and sometimes interlocked.
Mechanical properties: High strength in bending, stillness and crushing categories and medium resistance to shock loads, with a moderate steam bending classification.
Workability: It is rather difficult to work with moderate to severe blunting effect on tools. It exudes gummy resin when heated by dull cutters and the material is best run slowly through machines equipped with high speed steel knives. The wood turns well and smoothly. Pre-bore for nailing; glues without difficulty and stains and wax polishes easily. Spirit finishes remove the purple colour; lacquer finishes preserve the colour.
Uses: Purpleheart is used for heavy outdoor constructional work, bridge building, fresh water piling, dock work, house construction. Excellent for flooring, and suitable for shafts, tool handles, boat building, turnery, furniture and billiard tables. Also as decorative veneers and marquetry work, etc.
Density: 870 kg/m3 at 12 % moisture content
Monnin hardness: 7.6
Total tangential shrinkage: 6.7 %
Total radial shrinkage: 4.4 %
Stability: moderately stable
Modulus of elasticity: 21250 MPa
Durability: very durable.
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