The Babool or the Indian Gum, Nilotica (linn), Willd ex del is also known as kikar, babur etc. and is indigenous to the Indian Sub-continent. It is found in Deccan and Thar.
A. nilotica is a multipurpose tree. Its timber is valued by rural folks.
Uses
Tooth brushing- The tender twigs are used as a toothbrush (Datun)
Gum arabic- The gum of A. nilotica is also referred to in India as Amaravati gum
Hedges- V. nilotica is thorny and hence makes a good hedge.
Physical Properties of the Wood
The hard wood is heavy and tough. The average weight is about 785 kg/m3 at 12 per cent moisture content. It is somewhat coarse-textured and has interlocked grains. The wood is dull and somewhat rough without any characteristic odour or taste. The strength properties of wood are given below
| Babool | Teak | |||
| Green | Air Dry | Green | Air Dry | |
| Moisture content per cent | 70 | 12 | 76.6 | 12 |
| Static Bending | ||||
| (a) Fibre stress at elastic limit (kg/sq cm) | 421 | 487 | 509 | 651 |
| (b) Modulus of rupture(kg/cm2) | 776 | 894 | 841 | 959 |
| (c) Modulus of elasticity (1000 kg/sq cm) | 977 | 1128 | 1097 | 1196 |
| Impact bending | ||||
| (a) Fibre stress at elastic limit (kg/sq cm) | 1085 | 1306 | 1085 | 1121 |
| (b) Maximum height of drof in impact binding (cm) | 130 | 104 | 91 | 71 |
| (c) Modulus of elasticity (kg/sq cm) | 108400 | 140100 | 160600 | 166800 |
| Compression parallel to grain (kg/sq cm | ||||
| (a) Compressive stress at | 207 | 260 | 311 | 376 |
| (b) Maxi. Crushing stress | 354 | 536 | 415 | 532 |
| (c) Modulus of elasticity | 101800 | 118000 | 129800 | 137400 |
| Compression perpendicular to grain (kg/sq cm) | ||||
| (a) Compressive stress at elastic limit | 91 | 124 | 86 | 101 |
| Hardness-load in kg to embed 1.128 cm diameter ball to half diameter | ||||
| (a) Radial | 720 | 824 | 557 | 502 |
| (b) Tangential | 755 | 855 | 551 | 524 |
| (c) End | 671 | 915 | 486 | 488 |
| Shear paralled to grain (kg/sq cm) | ||||
| (a) Radial | 119 | 168 | 90 | 97 |
| (b) Tangential | 143 | 192 | 100 | 108 |
| Tension perpendicular to grain (kg/sq cm) | ||||
| (a) Radial | 89 | 71 | 68 | 58 |
| (b) Tangential | 107 | 93 | 79 | 66 |
Working and Finishing Properties
In its green state, It is an easy wood to convert and resaw. However, it becomes harder and tougher when seasoned. It works well by hand machines and finishes to a good surface. Its working quality index based on quality of worked surface and ease of working is 84 compared to 100 for teak.
Timber
The wood is widely used for construction as posts, rafters, beams and in door frames. It is one of the most favoured timbers for all types of agricultural implements like ploughs, harrows, crushers and rice pounders, and is extensively used in card building, for yokes, shafts, wheels and body work. Babul wood is also recommended for certain types of sports and athletic goods like clubs, wall bars, parallel bars, etc..
Fuelwood- and charcoal. Its charcoal is considered to be superior to charcoal from other species.
Resources
http://www.frienvis.nic.in/WriteReadData/UserFiles/file/pdfs/Babul.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vachellia_nilotica
We have found it to be an excellent raw material for various handicrafts
See some of our Babool/Acacia products on OUR EBAY STORE
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