Moisture Mapping
Moisture mapping is a valuable technique employed to determine the moisture levels within wood. Wood moisture content, often abbreviated as MC, is a measure of the amount of water present in the wood relative to its dry weight. Understanding wood moisture content is crucial in various industries, including construction, carpentry, woodworking, and forestry.
Wood Moisture Content
Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the surrounding environment. The amount of moisture absorbed by wood is influenced by several factors, such as temperature, humidity, and the wood species. When the relative humidity of the surrounding air increases, so does the moisture content of the wood.
Can Wood Contain Over 100% Moisture Content?
The maximum moisture content that wood can hold is known as the fiber saturation point (FSP). Beyond this point, the wood is considered to be fully saturated, and any additional moisture will not be absorbed but will instead occupy the voids between the wood fibers. The FSP varies among different species of wood but typically ranges from 25% to 30%.
Therefore, it is not possible for wood to contain more than 100% moisture content. Once the FSP is reached, the wood is considered to be fully saturated, and any excess moisture will not be absorbed into the wood fibers but will instead remain in the voids between them.