Interpreting dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) measurements: Why wood science needs to hit the reset button

Samuel L. Zelinka, Emil E. Thybring, Samuel V. Glass

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearch

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Water vapor sorption is an important characteristic of wood as an engineering material. In addition to affecting engineering properties such as the heat capacity, thermal conductivity, strength, stiffness, and dimensions, moisture is fundamental to many wood degradation mechanisms including fungal decay. Water vapor sorption isotherms have been gaining increasing attention in the wood literature as more laboratories adopt automated sorption balances, frequently called dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) analyzers. With DVS, the collection of sorption isotherms can be automated, completely transforming what was once a series of tedious manual measurements. The adoption of DVS, however, preceded careful studies of the precision and accuracy of the measurement; as a result, many of the previously published studies have been cast under scrutiny in recent years as the technique has been further studied. This paper summarizes the advancements in understanding of the relationship between experimental method and experimental errors with DVS along with best practices that should be used when collecting DVS data in future studies.

Original languageEnglish
Publication date2021
Number of pages7
Publication statusPublished - 2021
EventWorld Conference on Timber Engineering 2021, WCTE 2021 - Santiago, Chile
Duration: 9 Aug 202112 Aug 2021

Conference

ConferenceWorld Conference on Timber Engineering 2021, WCTE 2021
Country/TerritoryChile
CitySantiago
Period09/08/202112/08/2021
SponsorArauco, CMPC, et al., Etex, LP Building Products, Simpson Strong-Tie

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© WCTE 2021. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Dynamic vapor sorption analyzers
  • Parallel exponential kinetics (PEK model)
  • Water vapor sorption isotherms
  • Wood-moisture relations

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