Diffusivity and Surface Emissivity in Wood Drying

Abstract

Edge and end-coated sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and redwood (Sequoia sen~peruirens ( D .Don.) Endl.) 6 x 10 cm samples, of thicknesses ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 cm in either the longitudinal or tangential directions, were dried, from either the water-soakcd condition or from slightly below fiber saturation, to equilibrium in circulatcd air (300 ft/min) at 100 F ancl 75% relative humidity.A constant-rate drying perio1.lwas observed during the early stages of drying for the initially water-soaked samples but not for those initially below fiber saturation.The apparent diffusion coefficient D', calculated for the samples initially below fiber saturation