Kempas

Scientific Name:

Koompassia malaccensis

Other Names and Species:

Impas
Mengris
Thongbeung

Origin:

Malaysia and Indonesia

Appearance:

The sapwood of kempas is yellow to pale white, while the heartwood is orangish-red to reddish-brown in color upon drying. This species has an interlocked, sometimes spiraled grain, is fairly lusterous, and is coarse in texture.

Properties:

Kempas has a natural resistance to decay. The wood remains smooth under friction and is reported to have no discernable odor. Kempas dries rather easily but can experience some splitting due to abnormalities in the wood. Of note is the fact that kempas is somewhat acidic in nature and can harbor corrosion in metals where exposed when moist.

Janka Hardness: 1710