The stability and kinetic characteristics of a material can be greatly influenced by its susceptibility to both moisture and water vapor. This can overall have repercussions upon its possible roles in industry, meaning that analysis of water vapor sorption qualities is vital.
One such material which requires characterization is wood. This material is inclined to take in water vapor from the environment, with different types of wood and environmental factors leading to vapor sorption variation. Therefore, different wood species must be characterized to identify suitability for different applications and suitable climates.
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To reliably monitor the water vapor sorption of wood, gravimetric analysis devices which can analyze the mass of wood over time are used. This allows the user to identify suitable wood species for a specific role or environment.
Dynamic Vapor Sorption Measurements of Wood
One of the most frequently used gravimetric analysis methods for water vapor sorption characterization is through dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) analysis. This method monitors both kinetics and water vapor sorption isotherms by confining a specimen in a chamber and altering the environmental factors. These include temperature, glass flow rate, pressure, and humidity. The kinetic mass of the specimen can then be monitored.
There are numerous models to evaluate the isotherm data, to allow for meticulous analysis of each wood sample, discriminating between both the primary and secondary vapor sorption. Whilst primary vapor sorption is indicative of the surface area’s hydroxyl cellular structure; the secondary vapor sorption arises due to the interactions between the vapor and the molecules.
Ability to divide the different vapor sorption is vital for the analysis of a material and for the establishment of suitable industrial applications. For example, primary vapor sorption data is utilized to establish the sensitively of wood to moisture in varying environments.
Water Vapor Sorption from Hiden Isochema
One company which specializes in the development of sorption devices is Hiden Isochema. This company has developed an IGAsorp DVS analyzer which can evaluate wood in many different forms (including powdered, splintered and bulk). This equipment is also extremely stable and accurate, especially useful for wood characterization where equilibration would typically take a long time.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Hiden Isochema.
For more information on this source, please visit Hiden Isochema.