EMC is the moisture content at which wood neither gains nor loses moisture from the surrounding atmosphere. Wood moistens or dries out in an attempt to achieve a balance with the surrounding conditions. The amount of moisture in wood is expressed as a percentage and is initially determined by how it is dried as lumber after it has been sawn from the log. A target EMC for wood that is prepared for interior use in North America is 6 – 9%.
The moisture content of the product when it is in equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere is called the equal moisture content or hygroscopic equilibrium. Epigeal Plants in which the cotyledons appear above the surface of soil. Epicotyl The growing point of the embryo, which gives rise to the shoot, or the above ground part of the plant. Ergot 1. A disease of grasses and Cereals caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. 2. The Sclerotium of this fungus, which replaces the seeds of the host, and contains alkaloids which cause ergotism in animals and man.
A term applied to wood which indicates the moisture content at which the wood neither loses nor gains moisture from the surrounding atmosphere-it has reached equilibrium with the environment.
The moisture content at which the material neither gains nor loses moisture at a given relative humidity.
Any piece of wood will give off or take on moisture from the surrounding atmosphere until the moisture in the wood comes to equilibrium with that in the atmosphere. The moisture content of wood at the point of balance is called the equilibrium moisture content and is expressed as a percentage of the weight of the oven-dried wood.
The state at which the panel neither gains nor loses moisture given the relative humidity and temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.
Moisture content that a fuel particle will attain if exposed for an infinite period in an environment of specified constant temperature and humidity. When a fuel particle reaches equilibrium moisture content, net exchange of moisture between it and the environment is zero.
(e.m.c.) Moisture content (m.c.) of a piece of wood after full adjustment to environmental humidity and temperature.
This is the moisture content that a piece of wood will achieve when it is in equilibrium with the surrounding air. It is a variable value which is governed principally by the temperature and relative humidity of the air.
The condition wherein the moisture-retaining tendency of the grain is the same as the moisture-withdrawing tendency of the air.
The moisture content at which wood neither gains nor loses moisture when surrounded by air at a relative humidity and temperature.
The condition in which the moisture content of a structural material has stabilized in relation to relative humidity and temperature of surrounding air; i.e., no more moisture absorption can occur at the temperature and humidity.
The limiting moisture to which a given material can be dried under specific conditions of temperature, humidity and pressure. Additional moisture removal requires increased temperature, reduced pressure or reduced humidity.
When the level of moisture in a board is equal to the moisture in the surrounding air.
The balance of moisture content that wood attains at any given relative humidity and temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.
(1) the moisture content of material stabilized at a given temperature and relative humidity, expressed as percent moisture by weight; (2) the typical moisture content of a material in any given geographical area.
The moisture content that a fuel would eventually attain if exposed for an infinite period to specified constant values of Dry-bulb Temperature and Relative Humidity.
The moisture content of wood below the fibre saturation point is a function of both relative humidity and temperature of surrounding air. The equilibrium moisture content is the moisture content at which the wood is neither gaining nor losing moisture; this however, is a dynamic equilibrium and changes with relative humidity and temperature.