Berlin 2015 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 69: Biomaterials and Biopolymers (joint session CPP, BP)

CPP 69.10: Talk

Thursday, March 19, 2015, 17:30–17:45, C 264

Characterising the water vapour sorption behaviour of wood — •Alexander Murr and Roman Lackner — Institut for Structural Engineering and Material Science, University of Innsbruck

Wood is a cellular material with a hierarchical structure based on polymers (cellulose, hemicelluose and lignin). As variations of humidity causes a change of its physical properties, a detailed knowledge of the interaction between water and wood is of importance. A common method for such investigations are water vapour sorption (wvs) experiments where relative humidity is varied and the related change of sample mass is measured. As this change of mass deviates from classical diffusion, various macroscopic models appeared in literature, ranging from relaxation limited to transport limited approaches. To identify which of these descriptions could be used for further investigations, a precise identification of the macroscopic behaviour is necessary.

In the given presentation the sorption kinetics of Norway spruce wood (Picea abies) will be discussed. Based on a series of wvs experiments on grained wood the influence of grain size and temperature on the sorption behaviour will be shown. A comparison of similar sample masses with different grain sizes illustrates diffusion along the cell wall not being the limiting factor in the observed sorption experiments. Additionally, an outlook on further theoretical and experimental investigations shall be given.