Creep Behavior of Wood Plasticized by Moisture and Temperature

Moisture in wood acting as a plasticizer will strongly affect the wood’s viscoelastic properties. However, achieving the desired moisture content (MC) at elevated temperatures during creep tests is difficult. The aim of this study is to accurately and systematically investigate the creep behavior of birch wood at high temperatures. Experiments were conducted using a dynamic mechanical analyzer with a relative humidity accessory coupled with polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) film for wrapping samples. Creep behavior was examined at six MCs (0%, 6%, 12%, 18%, 24%, >30%) and 11 temperatures (5 to 105 °C). The MC of wood was strictly and accurately controlled during creep tests. Instantaneous compliance (IC) and creep compliance (CC) increased with the increase of both temperature and MC, with significant changes at higher temperatures and MCs. The effects on IC and CC were more pronounced when the subject was influenced by MC, with readings approximately three times and one time greater than those influenced by temperature, respectively. Dramatic increases in CC were found at certain temperatures and MC values. There was a complex interaction between temperature and MC on IC and CC.