Use of Moisture Meters with Treated Wood

IRG/WP 07-40382

W B Smith, Hwan Myeong Yeo, C Stark, B Morey, C Tascioglu, P Schneider, D Herdman, M Freeman

Drying wood treated with waterborne preservatives after treatment to near outdoor EMC conditions improves its physical performance characteristics. This is primarily due to the reduced checking, splitting and warping which can occur when wet wood, particularly if restrained from shrinking by being nailed or otherwise fastened, shrinks in use. Monitoring of the drying process, rate, and end point determination requires specific knowledge of wood moisture content. Moisture meters can provide prompt and non-destructive determination of wood moisture, and as such are among the most useful tools available to wood products manufacturers and scientists. However, if the wood has been treated with chemicals which alter its electrical characteristics, appropriate correction factors must be determined and used to maintain accuracy. Data and procedures are presented from the results of several studies on the development of moisture meter correction factors for preservative treated wood.


Keywords: moisture meters, preservative-treated wood

Conference: 07-05-20/24 Jackson, USA


Download document (65 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document