Potential Utilisation of Wood of gambaya albida (linn) from Southwest Nigeria

This study examined the anatomical, chemical, physical and mechanical properties of Gambaya albida (Chrysophyllum albidum) "Agbalumo" - Yoruba, "Udara" - igbo, trees found in Ibadan. Three (3) G. albida trees were randomly selected, felled and processed into tested samples. Three identified positions of sample height at [75 (top), 50 (middle) and 25% (base)] and radial portion at (sapwood and heartwood) were investigated. Effect of these portions (sample heights and radial portion were determined on physical, mechanical, chemical and anatomical properties of the wood were determined. Samples were prepared in accordance with ASTM D94 - 143, Tappi Method 204 and BS D 373 to determine properties such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, extractive, density, shrinkages, moisture content, fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width, cell wall thickness, runkel ratio, vessel diameter, vessel length, impact bending test, compression, shear strength (parallel) and (perpendicular) to the grain, modulus of elasticity and rupture. Results revealed that variation in sample height of G. albida does not have significant effect on anatomical and mechanical properties under review in relation to (perpendicular) direction to the grain, modulus of elasticity and rupture while lignin content, cellulose content, hemicelluloses, volumetric shrinkage, compression, shear strength in perpendicular direction to the grain does have significant influence (p < 0.05). In radial portion, properties such as hemicelluloses, extractive content, radial shrinkage and volumetric shrinkage were all significantly different (p < 0.05). The fore-going analysis revealed that G. albida wood would only be used for low bearing capacity work like scaffolding and furniture.