Impact of wood species, dimensions and drying temperature on sorption behaviour of wood

Abstract

This research paper examines the interdependence between wood sorption properties and its dimensions, species and drying temperature. The research was carried out on specimens of six species of wood (oak, ash, aspen, birch, spruce and pine) which had different dimensions and were dried at temperatures ranging between 30 and 90 °C. Subsequently specimens underwent the moistening and air drying process, and the following parameters were recorded: moistening and drying rate, moisture content distribution, steady moisture content and sorption hysteresis. It was established that sorption hysteresis was most affected by the cross section dimensions of the specimen. It was determined that, when the thickness of wood specimens increases from 7 to 30 mm, sorption hysteresis grows up to 8 times. The steady moisture content depends on the density, measurements and drying temperature of the specimen.