Chapter 9 - Calculations of Wood, Paper, and Other Materials

Abstract

There are several definitions regarding wood and properties of wood that are useful to understand. One of the most fundamental of these is the moisture content of wood. The moisture content of wood is a measure of the water content relative to either the total wet weight of material or the weight of ovendried wood material. The ovendry weight is determined by drying the wood to constant weight at 103–105°C (217–221°F). The pulp and paper industry almost invariably reports the moisture content of wood and other materials in terms of the total weight of material. The moisture content of wood is typically 50% but varies from 30% to 60%. This corresponds to 0.43–1.5kg water per kg dry wood. It is the responsibility of the woodyard operations to obtain a steady supply of suitable wood. Wood sources are roundwood, chips, slabs, edgings, and sawdust and planar shavings. Measurements of wood can be based on weight, by solid wood volume, by gross, stacked volume, or as volume of chips.