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Myth versus reality: Do parabolic sorption isotherm models reflect actual wood–water thermodynamics?

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Abstract

It has been known for over 35 years that commonly used sorption isotherm models fail to correctly predict wood–water properties such as heat of sorption. Despite this, their use to determine thermodynamic quantities and monolayer moisture contents persists and in fact is increasing in frequency. In this paper, we recommend the use of the “ABC isotherm,” which is mathematically equivalent to sorption isotherm models commonly used for wood but has the added benefits of simplicity, avoidance of a conceptual image of water sorption that is contradicted by measurements, and avoidance of any additional step of identifying quantities that are physically incorrect.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank JF Scott’s paper (2007) playfully criticizing data published on supposedly ferroelectric materials for an inspiration to this paper. SLZ and EET are thankful for the traveling grant for SLZ from “IGN International Academy,” while EET acknowledges funding from the VILLUM FONDEN postdoc program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Building and Fire Sciences, US Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 1 Gifford Pinchot Dr, Madison, WI, USA

    Samuel L. Zelinka & Samuel V. Glass

  2. Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, DK-1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Emil Engelund Thybring

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  1. Samuel L. Zelinka
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Correspondence to Samuel L. Zelinka.

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Zelinka, S.L., Glass, S.V. & Thybring, E.E. Myth versus reality: Do parabolic sorption isotherm models reflect actual wood–water thermodynamics?. Wood Sci Technol 52, 1701–1706 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-018-1035-9

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