The diffusion and equilibrium distribution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the cell walls of red pine (Pinus resinosa) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) were followed by analysing the free lumen solution concentration of vacuum treated wafers at various times after treatment. PEG was more-or-less excluded from the cell walls of wood, depending on the wood species and PEG molecular weight. However, the wood was bulked to a high extent, even with high molecular weight PEG. In aspen, Anti-Shrink-Efficiencies (ASE) of 66, 70, 66 and 58% were achieved with 20% solutions of PEG with nominal molecular weights of 200, 1000, 3350 and 8000 respectively.

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