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Abstract
The pore size distribution in wood affects sorption and transport of moisture. In the present paper, the pore structure of spruce and maple was examined in untreated and thermally modified samples. The relative humidities of the specimens were 33%, 43%, 53%, and 76%. Tests were carried out by helium pycnometry and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results clearly show that thermal treatments change the apparent density, pore structure, and pore size distribution. Measurements by the mercury intrusion porosimetry indicated that the influence of various environmental conditions (humidity, temperature) on the porosity and pore size distribution is small.
Keywords: apparent density; average pore diameter; bottleneck effect; helium pycnometry; mercury intrusion porosimetry; pit opening; pore size distribution; porosity; thermal treatment
Received: 2008-2-1
Accepted: 2008-9-1
Published Online: 2008-10-23
Published Online: 2008-10-23
Published in Print: 2009-01-01
©2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
