Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Describing non-Fickian water-vapour sorption in wood

  • Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Moisture transport and sorption in wood may not be accurately described by Fick's law of diffusion. The problem of making a model of non-Fickian behaviour (NFB) for wood is discussed. Some measurements in which NFB in wood is clearly seen are also reviewed. Four criteria, which must be satisfied by a model describing sorption in wood cell walls, are presented: (1) the model should not only describe the response to step changes in vapour pressure; (2) it should be able to predict sorption with more than one time scale; (3) the sorption rate should not depend on the thickness of the cell wall; (4) small rapid changes in vapour pressure should give slower fractional weight change than large rapid changes. A review of models of NFB in synthetic polymers indicates that there is presently no model of NFB which fulfills the above criteria. More measurements of the sorption behaviour of the cell wall are needed to construct such a model for wood. This model can then probably be used, together with a Fickian diffusion model, to model the sorption behaviour of whole wood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

c :

concentration in a material kg m−3

D c :

diffusivity with c as potential m2 s−1

D p :

diffusivity with p as potential kg/(m s Pa)

F :

flux kgm−2−1

p :

partial vapour pressure Pa

t :

time s

x :

distance m

References

  1. A. Fick, Ann. Phys. Chem. 94 (1855) 59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. F. A. Long and D. Richman, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82 (1960) 513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. A. Kishimoto, H. Fujita, H. Odani, M. Kurata and M. Tamura, J. Phys. Chem. 64 (1960) 594.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. H. Fujita, Fortsch. Hochpolym.-Forsch. 3 (1961) 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. G. N. Christensen, Appita 13 (1959) 112.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. G. N. Christensen and K. E. Kelsey, Holz als Rohund Werkstoff 17 (1959) 178.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. G. N. Christensen, in “Humidity and Moisture”, Vol. 4, edited by A. Wexler (Reinhold, New York, 1965) p. 279

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. L. Comstock, Forest Prod. J. March (1963) 96.

  9. M. W. Kelly and C. A. Hart, Wood Fiber 1 (1970) 270.

    Google Scholar 

  10. C. Skaar, C. Prichananda and R. W. Davidson, Wood Sci. 2 (1970) 179.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. L. Wadsö, Wood Sci. Technol. 27 (1994) 296.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Idem, Wood Fiber Sci. (in press, 1994)

  13. J. Villadsen, K. K. Hansen and L. Wadsö, in “Building Physics in the Nordic Countries '93”, Part 2, edited by B. Saxhof (Thermal Insulation Laboratory, Technical University of Denmark, 1993) p. 685.

  14. J. Arfvidsson and J. Claesson, in “International Centre for Heat and Mass Transfer (ICHMT) Symposium”, September 1989, Dubrovnik, Yugoslovia, edited by Chadwick.

  15. D. G. Hunt, J. Mater. Sci. 25 (1990) 3671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Van Brakel, Adv. Drying 1 (1980) 217.

    Google Scholar 

  17. H. L. Frisch, Polym. Eng. Sci. 20 (1980) 2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. J. Crank and G.S. Park, Trans. Faraday Soc. 47 (1951) 1072.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Kishimoto, Prog. Org. Coatings 1 (1972) 91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. H. L. Frisch J. Chem. Phys. 41 (1964) 3679.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Crank, J. Polym. Sci. 11 (1953) 151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. A. C. Newns, Trans. Faraday Soc. 52 (1956) 1533.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. J. H. Petropoulos and P. P. Roussis, in “Permeability of Plastic Films and Coatings to Gases, Vapors and Liquids”, edited by H. B. Hopfenberg (Plenum Press, New York, 1974) p. 219.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. Idem, J. Membrane Sci. 3 (1978) 343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. S. Joshi and G. Astarita, Polymer 20 (1979) 455.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. G. Astarita and J. H. Meldon, Latin Am. Appl. Res. 20 (1990) 5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. N. S. Kalospiros, R. Ocone, G. Astarita and J. H. Meldon, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 30 (1991) 851.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. W. R. Vieth and K. J. Sladek, J. Colloid Sci. 20 (1965) 1014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. W. R. Vieth and M. A. Amini, in “Permeability of Plastic Films and Coatings to Gases, Vapors and Liquids”, edited by H. B. Hopfenberg (Plenum Press, New York, 1974) p. 49.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  30. J. Sax and J. M. Ottino, Polym. Eng. Sci. 23 (1983) 165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. J. M. Ottino and N. Shah, ibid. 24 (1984) 153.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. N. Shah, J. E. Sax and J. M. Ottino, Polymer 26 (1985) 1239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. N. Shah, J. M. Ottino, Chem. Eng. Sci. 41 (1986) 283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. A. R. Berens and H. B. Hopfenberger, Polymer 19 (1978) 489.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Idem 17 (1979) 1757.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. H. L. Frisch, T. T. Wang and T. K. Kwei, J. Polym. Sci. A-2 7 (1969) 879.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. T. T. Wang, T. K. Kwei and H. L. Frisch, ibid. 7 (1969) 2019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. T. K. Kwei and T. T. Wang, in “Permeability of Plastic Films and Coatings to Gases, Vapors and Liquids”, edited by H. B. Hopfenberg (Plenum Press, New York, 1974) p. 63.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  39. A. Peterlin, Polym. Lett. 3 (1965) 1083.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Idem, Makromol. Chem. 124 (1969) 136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Idem, J. Res. Nat. Bur. Stand. (A) 81 (1977) 243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Idem, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Phys. Ed. 17 (1979) 1741.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. G. Astarita and G. C. Sarti, Polym. Eng. Sci. 18 (1978) 388.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. D. J. Enscore, H. B. Hopfenberg and V. T. Stannett, Polymer 18 (1977) 793.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. G. Sarti, ibid. 20 (1979) 827.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. N. L. Thomas and A. H. Windle, ibid. 21 (1980) 613.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Idem. ibid., 23 (1982) 529.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Y. O. Tu, Qt. Appl. Math. July (1977) 269.

  49. Y. O. Tu, and A. C. Ouano, IBM J. Res. Develop. March (1977) 131.

  50. T. Alfrey, E. F. Gurnee and W. G. Lloyd, J. Polym. Sci. 12 (1966) 249.

    Google Scholar 

  51. T. Sadoh, J. Jpn Wood Res. Soc. 6 (1960) 219.

    Google Scholar 

  52. I.K. Walker, New Zealand J. Sci. 20 (1977) 3.

    Google Scholar 

  53. L. Wadsö, in “Proceedings of Drying '92”, Montreal, August 1992, edited by A. Mujumdar (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1992) Part B, p. 1145.

    Google Scholar 

  54. A. J. Stamm and R. M. Nelson, Forest Prod. J. November (1961) 536.

  55. E. T. Choong, ibid. January (1965) 21.

  56. Y. Lescanne, C. Moyne and P. Perre, in “Proceedings of Drying '92”, Montreal, August 1992, edited by A. Mujumdar (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1992) Part B, p. 1017.

    Google Scholar 

  57. G. N. Christensen and K. E. Kelsey, Holz als Rohund Werkstoff 17 (1959) 189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. L. Salmén, in “Properties of Ionic Polymers; Natural and Synthetic” edited by L. Salmén and M. Htun (Swedish Pulp and Paper Research Institute, STFI, Stockholm, 1991) p. 285.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Building Material, Lund University, Box 118, S-221 00, Lund, Sweden

    L. Wadsö

Authors
  1. L. Wadsö
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wadsö, L. Describing non-Fickian water-vapour sorption in wood. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE 29, 2367–2372 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00363428

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00363428

Keywords

Search

Navigation