Decoding the Terminology | Moisture Content of Board Materials

There are many professional terms in the board industry, such as moisture content, static bending strength, bonding strength, formaldehyde emission, etc. Some are familiar to everyone, while others are not valued by the public.

In fact, the board properties and board indicators represented by these terms are all key factors in evaluating board quality. They will have a significant impact on people's future home life and cannot be ignored. Today, let's decode the first professional term for board materials - "moisture content".

What is moisture content?

Moisture content of board

Under normal conditions, boards and their products contain a certain amount of moisture. In my country, the percentage of the weight of the water contained in the board to the weight of the board after absolute drying is defined as the moisture content of the board.

Equilibrium moisture content

When the board is under certain air conditions and for a long enough time, its moisture content will tend to an equilibrium value, which is called the equilibrium moisture content EMC of the environment.

Let’s first look at the interpretation of two professional terms.

From the comparison of the two moisture contents, there will be four results.

The moisture content of the board is not equal to the equilibrium moisture content: the phenomenon of "shrinkage when dry and expansion when wet" will occur

When the moisture content of a board exceeds the equilibrium moisture content of the environment, it will shrink due to moisture loss, while it will expand due to moisture absorption. For example, the average annual equilibrium moisture content in Guangzhou is 15.1%, while in Beijing it is 11.4%. Boards dried to 11% are suitable for use in Beijing, but will expand and deform when used in Guangzhou due to moisture absorption.

Balanced moisture content of the board: will extend the service life of the board

Maintaining and stabilizing the moisture content of the board within a certain balance range can effectively prevent the board from deformation and cracking, thereby extending the service life of the board.

The moisture content of the board is strictly controlled to keep it balanced, and it is not easy to crack or deform even when the humidity is high.

The moisture content of the board is too high: deformation and mold will occur

If the moisture content of the board is too high, the internal moisture will continue to evaporate during storage, causing shrinkage, deformation, cracking and other problems in the board, which in serious cases will affect the quality and service life of the board. Furthermore, in hot weather, the board with too high a moisture content is very susceptible to fungal infection, resulting in mold, discoloration, and insect damage.

The moisture content of the board is too low: cracks and bulging will occur

There are two main effects of too low moisture content in the board. First, it will directly reduce the bonding strength and other physical and mechanical properties of the board. For example, the wood will become brittle, the toughness will be reduced, the nail holding force will be reduced, and it will be difficult to saw and plan. It will also be prone to breakage and edge collapse during processing. Second, during the transportation and use of the board, because the moisture content of the board is lower than the equilibrium moisture content of the surrounding environment, it will absorb moisture from the outside, causing the board to deform.

How to make royal coconut board?

In summary, controlling the moisture content of the board and stabilizing it in a balanced index can avoid many quality problems. So how to strictly control the moisture content? Let's see how the board is made↓↓↓

01. For logs, dry at constant temperature for 10 days

The boards are made of carefully selected high-quality logs and are equipped with a large standard drying room. Advanced drying technology is used to subject the logs to multiple constant-temperature drying procedures for a total of up to 10 days, allowing the wood's swelling, shrinkage and deformation due to moisture to be released before production, thereby controlling the moisture content of the boards within the standard requirements from the source.

02. Multiple health care to balance water content

We attach great importance to the curing of boards. First, there will be a curing period after purchasing the logs to allow the wood to fully adapt to the temperature and humidity of the processing site. Then, after drying the logs, there will be a curing stage to allow the wood to eliminate drying stress. There are also multiple curing steps in the 24 processing procedures to balance the moisture content of the boards during the production process. Finally, when the boards are shipped to various parts of the country, they will also be cured in warehouses in various places to allow the boards to adapt to the local climate environment.

▲The board will go through multiple health care stages

03. Full quality inspection and strict control of moisture content

Data is the best guide, and quality inspections are conducted throughout the entire process, with moisture content testing being essential. Through quality inspections at each stage, we can monitor in real time whether the board's moisture content meets the standard before proceeding to the next step. After the finished board is produced, it will be sent to a third-party authoritative agency for quality inspection. Only when all indicators, including moisture content, pass must they be approved for release.

▲Multiple moisture content tests on the board

The board has a balanced and stable moisture content, making home life more comfortable.