Porosity determination with helium pycnometry as a method to characterize waterlogged woods and the efficacy of the conservation treatments

Abstract

The helium pycnometer allows us to measure the cell-wall density of dry woods and the basic density of wood samples soaked with water and/or a consolidant solution if a non-volatile solvent is used. These parameters were correlated to the porosity, which for degraded waterlogged wood is related to the maximum water content. Moreover, this has revealed the possibility of investigating, by means of accurate cell-wall density determination, the efficacy of several consolidants in the treatment of waterlogged woods. © 2012 University of Oxford.