MEASUREMENT BOUND WATER MAXIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT AND DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT DETERMINATION OF BLOWN CELLULOSIC INSULATION MATERIAL IN LABORATORY CONDITIONS
Keywords:
cellulosic insulation material; bound water maximum moisture content; diffusion coefficient+.Abstract
Mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and biological durability are affected by moisture in timber structures; however, moisture is necessary for hygroscopic insulation materials. With high moisture content, wood elasticity is reduced, corrosion of connectors is promoted, thermal conductivity and heat storage capacity are increased. Thanks to hygroscopic fibers, moisture is stored and redistributed in blown cellulose insulation, the hydrothermal balance within timber walls is enhanced. A laboratory method to determine the diffusion coefficient under variable surface fluxes is developed, and the maximum bound water content is measured using Archimedes’ principle. 40 cm thick test specimens under controlled interior and exterior conditions were tested in the experiments. Moisture content fluctuation was monitored over three months. The diffusion coefficient was derived from Fick’s law and from conservation principle using the inverse method. Results show a decreasing diffusion coefficient that stabilizes over time and a maximum bound water content of 34%. The findings indicate that effective insulation materials must combine a high diffusion coefficient and water storage capacity to manage water condensation and preserve structural durability.
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