Determination of the fibre saturation point in whole wood using differential scanning calorimetry

Simpson, L.A. and Barton, A.F.M. (1991) Determination of the fibre saturation point in whole wood using differential scanning calorimetry. Wood Science and Technology, 25 (4). pp. 301-308.

Abstract

A new method for determining the fibre saturation point (FSP) of whole never-dried wood is described. Enthalpy of melting values from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments are used to calculate the proportion of non-freezing water. Two methods for calculating the FSP from the enthalpy data are described. FSP determinations were carried out on the commercially important West Australian eucalypt species, Eucalyptus marginata and Eucalyptus diversicolor and a plantation softwood, Pinus radiata. Results are reproducible and are corroborated by the traditional volumetric shrinkage method for determining the FSP. On all samples below 10 mg a low temperature endothermic peak is observed as a shoulder on the main peak. It is postulated that this is due to an intermediate layer of water between the freezing and non-freezing water.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
Copyright:	© 1991 Springer-Verlag.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/19598

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