Abstract
The sorption of moisture for ten species of tropical wood, in the density range 480–1120 kg m−3 was investigated by measuring the moisture content (MC) and dimensions (DC) during relative humidity (RH) cycling. In general, it was found that there was an increase in dimensions as well as moisture content on increasing the RH, while there was a decrease in dimensions as well as MC on decreasing the RH. Hysteresis effects were observed both in the DC-RH and the MC-RH curves on RH cycling. The hysteresis properties were observed to be not only anisotropic but also species specific. In addition, an anomalous contraction was observed at moisture contents below 2%. The shell-core model is advanced to explain this anomalous behaviour of wood.
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Eligon, A.M., Achong, A. & Saunders, R. Moisture adsorption and desorption properties of some tropical woods. J Mater Sci 27, 3442–3456 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01151818
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01151818