AMERICAN OAK
American Oak. Quercus robur, quercus petraea.
Technological properties
Density: 670 –710 –760 kg/m3.
Shrinkage: Moderately nervous.
Hardness: Semi-hard.
Origin and availability
Found in the USA. Its forest masses, production and export are stable.
Description of the wood
The colour of the heartwood varies from light yellow-brown to brown and the sapwood is a little lighter. The sapwood is clearly differentiated. The growth rings are visible and clearly marked. In the radial cutting, the wood rays appear wide and in the form of large reflections, characteristic of oak; and in the tangential section there are vertical lines with a slightly darker colour than the rest of the wood. The fibre is straight. The grain is coarse.
It has a strong tannic scent. The wood is described as acidic and can corrode metals such as iron or steel in contact with it. The vapours from the green wood can also be very corrosive.
Natural durability
The wood is classified as durable against the action of fungi, sensitive to anobiidae, powderpost beetles and cerambycids, and moderately durable against termites. The heartwood is not penetrable, and the sapwood is penetrable.
Applications and use
It is an ideal wood for cooperage and is essential for the production of liqueur wines. It has been widely used in gothic cathedrals in France, Germany and England, where it is admirably well preserved.
