Measurement of Equilibrium Moisture Content of Wood at High Temperatures and Vapor Pressures

고온고압에서의 목재 평형함수율 측정

In this study, it was examined the method to estimate equilibrium moisture content(EMC) at high vapor pressures and high temperatures above $100^{\circ}C$. The material used for the experiment was Sugi(Cryptomeria japonica). EMC was investigated at temperatures ranging from $100^{\circ}C$ to $160^{\circ}C$ and under saturated vapor pressures above 1 atm. The correlation between temperatures and vapor pressures have a good agreement with those observed by thermocouple and pressure gauge in the air state of autoclave, respectively. A sensitivity of quartz spring was 65mm/g. Moisture content(MC)s calculated from the quartz spring elongation by vapor sorption showed a good agreement with MCs by oven-dried method. Using this system, it was found that EMC at high vapor pressures and high temperatures above $100^{\circ}C$ were higher than EMC of wood in 1 atm pressure conditions. With this system, therefore, it was concluded that the EMCs of wood and wood-based materials at high temperatures were able to be evaluated.