Rubberwood

Hule / Hevea brasiliensis

Local Names

Hevea Wood, Parawood, Árbol de Caucho, Sibi-sibi, Seringa, Seringuera, Capi, Jéve, Shiringa, Heveakautschukbaum, Malaysian Oak, White Teak.

Distribution & Tree

Rubber is a fast-growing tree native to the Amazon Basin, but today is widely planted across tropical America, Southeast Asia and West Africa for latex production. Rubber in the wild grows in the tropical evergreen rainforest of the Amazon Basin, often in periodically flooded areas with the largest trees found on the well-drained plateau. In its natural state, trees may reach heights of 35 meters with large cylindrical trunks. Rubber trees on plantations reach a diameter of about 50 cm, usually with a short bole with a pronounced taper. Central America is host to a native species of hule (Castilla elastica) that was utilized by indigenous groups in the pre-Hispanic period for sporting balls and impermeable sheets and exported during the colonial period but isn’t commercially planted today.

Wood Appearance

Heartwood is whitish when freshly cut, becoming light brown on exposure, with a pink tinge with indistinct sapwood. Texture is moderately coarse and even, grain straight, and luster low. Green wood has a characteristic sour smell.

Processing Properties

The timber is reported to saw without difficulty and planes easily to a smooth surface. It slices and peels well. May split in nailing. It kiln dries without difficulty and stains well.

Strength & Durability

Rubberwood is equal to or stronger than Pinus svlvestris in all mechanical properties. The timber is perishable and stains readily when untreated and is susceptible to borer, termite and powder-beetle attack. It requires treatment which is readily accomplished, including with a hot and cold bath system.

Wood Uses

Utility furniture components, indoor joinery, doors and windows, moulding, flooring, general construction and framing, stairs, veneer for interior of plywood, paneling (typically finger-jointed and edge-glued), pulp and paper products, fiberboard, particleboard, small panels, matches, and boxes.

Ecological & Social Importance

Latex is collected by making diagonal cuts in the bark of the trunk, one below the other. After the last cut, the rubber tapper places a cup on the tree to collect the latex as it drips from the incisions. After harvest, the liquid is coagulated using acid into sheets that are stored and sold. Seeds were first brought from Brazil to Asia in 1876. Since the fungus that attacks the seeds in Brazil is absent in Asia, the seedlings grew well, and the improvement of rubber made the countries of that region, including Malaysia and Indonesia, the largest global producers. Today, most rubber plantations utilize high-productivity clones that may yield up to 800 times the output per hectare versus traditional tapping of natural forests. Guatemala rubberwood is produced from ageing trees whose latex productivity is in decline. The wood is commonly used in the Asian furniture industry (mainly inexpensive items) where it is usually stained.

Values determined at 12% humidity - Provided for reference only
			Reference Species
Technical Characteristics		Rubberwood	American Elm	Red Cedar
Density	kg/m3	592	560	530
Janka Hardness	kgf	451	376	408
Bending Stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity)	GPa	9.1	9.2	6.1
Bending Strength (Modulus of Rupture)	MPa	71.9	81.4	60.7
Crushing Strength	MPa	42.1	38.1	41.5
Shrinkage, Radial	%	2.3%	4.2%	3.1%
Shrinkage, Tangential	%	5.1%	9.5%	4.7%
Shrinkage, Volumetric	%	7.5%	14.6%	7.8%
T/R Ratio		2.2	2.3	1.5

DENSITY

JANKA HARDNESS

BENDING STIFFNESS

BENDING STRENGTH

CRUSHING STRENGTH

SHRINKAGE

Values are for reference only and cannot be guaranteed. Wood is a natural material and physical and mechanical properties may vary depending on age, genetics, and other factors. We encourage customers to consult the references provided in the bibliography. For further explanations of wood’s key technical characteristics, an excellent resource is the Wood Database with articles on Density (average dried weight); Janka hardness; Elastic Modulus; Rupture Modulus; Crushing Strength; Radial, Tangential and Volumetric Shrinkage.

References	View Source
Gérard, J. Guibal, D. et al. Tropical Timber Atlas: Technological characteristics and uses. ITTO. Éditions Quæ, 2017.
"Fruit Trees and Useful Plants in Amazonian Life." Non-Wood Forest Products 20. Shanley, P et al (Eds). FAO/CIFRPPI.
Castilla Elastica. Cordero, J. Boshier, D. "Arboles de Centroamerica: Un manual para extensionistas." Oxford/Catie. 2003
Fichas técnicas de especies de uso forestal y agroforestal en la Amazonia colombiana. Martin Ivan Montero González, Jaime Alberto Barrera García, Bernardo Giraldo Benavides, Armando Antonio Lucena Mancera. Bogotá, D.C., Colombia: lnstituto Amaz6nico de lnvestigaciones Cientificas SINCHI, 2016
Hevea brasiliensis. Catálogo virtual de flora del Valle de Aburrá, Universidad EIA
Hevea Brasiliensis. Vozzo, J.A. (ed) "Manual de Semillas de Arboles Tropicales." 2010.
Hevea Brasiliensis. Wood Technology Transfer Fact Sheets. Forest Products Laboratory. USDA Forest Service.
Kaiser, J.A. “Rubberwood/Para.” Wood Explorer. Woodworking Network. 14 August 2011.
Rubberwood. ITTO Lesser Known Species.
Rubberwood. The Wood Database.
World Agroforestry Centre database