Common Name: Ipe

Other Common Names: Brazilian Walnut, Amapa, Cortez, Guayacan polvillo, Flor Amarillo, Greenheart, Madera negra, Tahuari, Lapacho negro

Common Trade Names: Pau Lope, Diamond Decking, Ironwood, and many others.

Distribution: Throughout South and Latin America. The tree grows on a variety of sites from ridge tops to riverbanks and marsh forest. Ipe is responsibly harvested from managed forests. We support widespread replanting programs. Ipe is as common in South and Latin America as Yellow Pine is in the United States.

General Characteristics: Dark brown walnut color. Gives a green dust when cut. The texture is fine to medium. The tree may grow to 150 feet in height with trunk diameters of 6 ft. Frequently to heights of 100 ft an diameters of 2 to 3 ft. Boles are clear to 60 ft and more.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.85 to 0.97, air dry density 66 to 75 pounds per cubic foot. A 3/4" thick finish material weights aprox 4.5 pounds per square foot.

Moisture Content of Decking: Air dried to aprox 12% for use on exterior projects.

Bending Strength: 22,560 psi

Max. Crushing Strength: 10,350 psi

Janka side hardness: 3,060 lb for green material and 3,680 lb at 12" moisture content.

Forest Products Laboratory Toughness average for green and dry material = 404 in.-lb (5/8" specimen.)

Drying and shrinkage (green to ovendry): Radial 6.6%, tangential 8.0%, volumetric 13.2%. Movement after manufacture is rated as small. Typical movement for a air dried decking board 6" wide board is 1/16" in between seasons.

Working Poperties: Has a blunting effect on cutters, use of carbide tipped saw blades is necessary. Routs nicely. Must be predrilled for fastening.

Durability: Heartwood is very resistant to attack by decay fungi, mod, and termites. Last 40+ years left untreated, up to 100 years with deck oil applied to surface.

Termite Resistance: U.S. NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY (15 years in ground without attack by termites) their highest rating.

Fire Resistance: ASTM-E84 tested to National Fire Protection Code, Class A, Uniform Building Code, Class 1; highest rating.

Hardness - ASTM-D143 Tested: Approximately seven times harder than Cedar, Ipe decking stands up to the harshest conditions.

Slip Resistance - ASTM-C1028-89 tested: Ipe Decking exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient of friction in a wet environment

Strength - ASTM-D143 tested: Three times stronger than Cedar, our Ipe Decking exceeds all existing code requirements for exterior constructions.