Isothermal Moisture Transfer Coefficients in Pinus Radiata Above the Fiber-Saturation Point, Using the Moment Method

The "moment method" was used to measure the transfer coefficients for moisture movement above fiber-saturation in Pinus radiata under isothermal conditions using moisture concentration as the driving force. Measurements were made at 5 C, 17 C and 30 C, and in the longitudinal, radial and tangential directions. Results obtained lie between 1.6 x 10 -10 m 2 /s and 1.24 x 10 -7 m 2 /s. Despite scatter in the results, certain important trends are detectable, viz: (1) there is roughly an order of magnitude difference between the longitudinal results, and the results in the radial and tangential directions at 30 C; (2) there is an apparent increase in transfer rate as the temperature rises; (3) the transfer coefficient tends to increase with moisture content for most results.