The timber is a Heavy Hardwood with a density of 515-1,040 kg/m3 air dry. The timber of merbau is classified as durable under exposed conditions.
The Standard Malaysian Name for the timber ofIntsia spp., principally I. palembanica(Leguminosae). Vernacular names applied includemerbau ipil (Peninsular Malaysia) and ipil laut (Sabah) for I. bijuga. Major species include I. bijuga and I. palembanica. The sapwood is pale yellow to light buff and is sharply differentiated from the heartwood, which is yellowish to orange-brown when fresh, darkening to brown or dark red-brown on exposure.
Also known as Bendora and Kwila (Papua New Guinea); Besi kesia, Ipil, Kayu besi and Merbau (Indonesia); Gonuo (Vietnam); Ifilele (Samoa Islands); Ipil, Ipil laut and Malaipil (Philippines); Komu (New Caledonia); Krakasprek (Cambodia); Kwila (Australia); Lumpha, Lumphor thale, Lum-por and Maka-mong(Thailand); Merbau (Brunei); Tat-takun (Myanmar); Vesi (Fiji).
AIR DRYING
The timber seasons slowly without any degrade except for some powder-post-beetle attacks on the sapwood. 13 mm thick boards take approximately 4.5 months to air dry, while 38 mm thick boards take 6 months.
SHRINKAGE
Shrinkage values are particularly low. Radial shrinkage averaging 0.9% and tangential shrinkage averaging 1.6%.
