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Modeling moisture absorption process of wood-based composites under over-saturated moisture conditions using two-part equations

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the moisture absorption process for wood-based composites subjected to over-saturated moisture conditions. Two stages are comprised in the moisture transfer process at the over-saturated moisture conditions, an initial stage which is the moisture transfer process mainly under fiber saturation point (FSP), and a second stage which is the moisture transfer process beyond the FSP. A model was developed based on two-part equations to describe the process, from which three coefficients (k 1 , k 21 , and k 22) can be used to quantitatively describe the moisture transfer process under the conditions. Two different wood-based composites, wood fiberboard and wood fiber/polymer composites (polymer content: 30%), were used to test the model at four different ambient temperatures (30, 45, 62, and 80°C). It was shown that the two-part equation can accurately describe the moisture absorption process under over-saturated moisture conditions. The moisture absorption rate in the initial stage was about 30–60% greater than that in the second stage for most of the cases evaluated in this study. The higher the temperature, the greater moisture absorption parameters were obtained. At both moisture absorption stages (below FSP and above FSP), the calculated activation energy for the moisture absorption rate of wood fiberboard was very close to that of wood fiber/polymer composites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Products Department, Mississippi State University, Box 9820, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Sheldon Q. Shi

  2. Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Dongfeng Wu

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  1. Sheldon Q. Shi
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  2. Dongfeng Wu
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Correspondence to Sheldon Q. Shi.

Additional information

This manuscript is approved for publication as Journal Article No. FP 398 of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University.

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Shi, S.Q., Wu, D. Modeling moisture absorption process of wood-based composites under over-saturated moisture conditions using two-part equations. Wood Sci Technol 43, 143–152 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-008-0201-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-008-0201-x

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