Pink Ivory
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Common Name(s): Pink Ivory, Red Ivorywood Scientific Name: Berchemia zeyheri Distribution: Southern Africa Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 65 lbs/ft3 (1,035 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .90, 1.04 Janka Hardness: 3,230 lbf (14,370 N) Modulus of Rupture: 20,020 lbf/in2 (138.1 MPa) Elastic Modulus: 2,193,000 lbf/in2 (15.12 GPa) Crushing Strength: 11,630 lbf/in2 (80.2 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 4.8%, Tangential: 7.2%, Volumetric: 12.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.5 |
Color/Appearance: Pink Ivory ranges in color from a pale brownish pink, to a bright, almost neon pink, to a deep red. Typically the most valuable pieces of Pink Ivory are a vibrant pink. Pink Ivory can commonly be seen with a curly or fiddleback grain pattern, further enhancing its visual impact. Sapwood of Pink Ivory tends to be pale yellow to light brown, with a somewhat gradual demarcation from heartwood. Color changes in Pink Ivory (becoming faded or dull over time) can be problematic and are not fully understood.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight to interlocked; fine, even texture with good natural luster.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium pores in no specific arrangement, nuymerous; commonly in radial multiples of 2-4; gum/heartwood deposits common, though not easily seen with lens; growth rings may be distinct due to increased pore frequency in earlywood; narrow to medium rays visible without lens; parenchyma not visible with lens.
Rot Resistance: Rated as durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, Pink Ivory is said to have excellent weathering characteristics: though it is seldom used in applications where this would be an issue.
Workability: Pink Ivory has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges, and it’s fairly difficult to work in board form. Tearout can occur on figured or quartersawn sections during planing. Pink Ivory is much more common in applications involving carving or turning, and it turns and finishes well.
Odor: Pink Ivory has a distinct and somewhat unpleasant odor when being worked.
Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Pink Ivory. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Reputed to be a scarce commodity, Pink Ivory is typically very expensive, usually on par with Gaboon Ebony: another pricey African import.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
