Moisture Movement in Wood Polypropylene Composites

Published: 2009

Author(s):
Shaler, S.
Cheng, Q.

Publication Name: Journal of Wood and Wood Products

Publication URL: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00107-009-0391-4.pdf

Research Area:
Keywords:
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Abstract:

Moisture movement in an extruded wood polypropylene composite was evaluated by exposure to high humidity and immersion of the material in both fresh and seawater. The saturation moisture content was approximately 20 and 19% when exposed to distilled water and seawater, respectively. The moisture diffusion coefficient (Dm) of thin specimens exposed to high humidity was 3.4 × 10–8 cm2/s. The Dm of small cubic specimens with extruded surfaces removed submerged in distilled water and seawater were es- timated to be 3.1 and 2.3 × 10–8 cm2/s, respectively. Use of these diffusion coefficients overestimates the rate of moisture movement in larger extrusion profiles indicating the role of transport phenomenon other than diffusion.