Authors: Andrés Dieste Katia Rodríguez Vanessa Baño
Publish Date: 2012/07/01
Volume: 71, Issue: 1, Pages: 133-134
Abstract
Hygroscopic properties and water vapour permeability of chestnut Castanea sativa Mill wood were studied using saturated salt solutions and the results were analyzed using the Hailwood–Horrobin model At 20 °C/65 the equilibrium moisture content MC eq and density were 115 ± 01 and 5766 ± 102 kg m−3 respectively and the fiber saturation point was 2083 The average water vapour permeability was 0320 kg m−1 s−1 Pa−1108 lower than that of Radiata pine 0726 kg m−1 s−1 Pa−1108 Furthermore there was no difference in permeability between tangential and radial cuts This low permeability is explained by the scant development of the multilayer of the Hailwood–Horrobin model This is attributed to the wood extractives which reduce the void space and hindered condensation Chestnut wood has different vapour sorption and vapour permeability than conifers normally used in constructionThe authors would like to thank the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain MICIN and the Plan for Science Technology and Innovation of the Principality of Asturias PCTI for supporting this research through the research project “Forest and industrial valorisation of Spanish chestnut” VALOCAS and its funding through the Singular Strategic Projects MICIN and Complementary Support for Singular Strategic Projects carried out in Asturias PCTI
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