Abstract
Kelsey and Clarke1 have recently discussed the variation with temperature of the integral heat of sorption of water by wood (ΔH), and its bearing on the specific heat (cm) of wood containing m gm. of moisture per gm. of dry wood. Empirically, it is found that cm is greater than the specific heat (c) calculated from the specific heats and proportions of the components, assuming a simple mixture law2. This effect is not confined to cellulosic materials, but has been observed on starch3, gelatin4, dried foods5 and other hygroscopic substances. The suggestion has previously been made5 that the excess specific heat could be accounted for in terms of the change in ΔH with temperature (T); Kelsey and Clarke quote the appropriate thermodynamic equation as where cw is the specific heat of the water, and c0 the specific heat of the dry wood. Putting cw = 1, and noting that then where Δc is the excess specific heat.
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HEARMON, R., BURCHAM, J. Specific Heat and Heat of Wetting of Wood. Nature 176, 978 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1038/176978a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/176978a0
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