SEDL / STP / STP1495-EB / STP45404S

Effects of Drying Conditions, Phase Transformations, and Carbonation Reactions on Measurements of Sorption Isotherms of Building Materials

Wilkes, Kenneth E.
Distinguished R&D Staff Member, Research Technician, Staff Engineer, and Group Leader, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Atchley, Jerry A.
Distinguished R&D Staff Member, Research Technician, Staff Engineer, and Group Leader, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Childs, Phillip W.
Distinguished R&D Staff Member, Research Technician, Staff Engineer, and Group Leader, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Desjarlais, Andre
Distinguished R&D Staff Member, Research Technician, Staff Engineer, and Group Leader, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 2007

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Abstract

The sorption isotherm is one of the basic material properties used in hygrothermal modeling of building envelope performance. Measurement of this properly is deceptively simple. Specimens are first dried and then exposed to a series of higher relative humidities to develop a curve of moisture content versus relative humidity at constant temperature. This paper discusses some confounding effects that we have observed while performing measurements on a number of common building materials. Materials studied included gypsum products, wood and wood products, and cementitious materials.