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 ...

An individual kernel moisture meter and an individual kernel oven drying procedure were used to quantify the kernel-to-kernel moisture content (MC) variation in equilibrated rough rice samples varying in MC from 9 to 37%, w.b. Average, bulk sample MCs were also determined using an oven drying method. No difference (p < 0.05) was found in the average MCs measured by the meter at three weeks or t...

Gas-phase compost biofilters are extensively used in concentrated animal feeding operations to remove odors and, in some cases, ammonia from air sources. The expected biochemical pathway for these predominantly aerobic systems is nitrification. However, non-uniform media with low oxygen levels can shift biofilter microbial pathways to denitrification, a source of greenhouse gases. Several facto...

The total heat of desorption of rice (Qt) was determined for several rice types as a function of moisture content (MC), and kernel temperature, using a semi-theoretical approach in which desorption isotherms were used in conjunction with the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. Qt decreased exponentially as MC increased, decreasing sharply for MCs above 15% and approaching the latent heat of vaporizati...

Dielectric characterization evaluated the influence of sorbed moisture on urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) polymer matrix and unsilanated and silanated zirconia-silica (ZS)-filled UDMA composites. The moisture content (MC) of samples tested ranged from 0 to 7.32% with maximum values for UDMA, silanated and unsilanated ZS-filled UDMA were 3.72, 6.0 and 7.32%, respectively. Dielectric spectra were ...

An accurate, rapid, and convenient method is presented for moisture content (MC) 10 determination of solid wood based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Poly(methyl methacrylate)-equivalent thicknesses (PMMA-EThs) of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood blocks and pure water were measured by means of a wide range of X-ray tube voltages (20–100 kV). The ratio of the PMMA-ETh of pure w...

The analysis and optimal design of a multi-layered microstrip sensor for measuring moisture content of ricegrain are described. The microstrip sensing structure consists of three layers: substrate, protective layer and semi-infinite grain medium. The effective dielectric constant, characteristic impedance and attenuation or insertion loss of this structure are calculated at various moisture con...

Variations in moisture and substrate in preharvest corn kernels and cottonseed were linked with the ability of Aspergillus parasiticus to infect the seed and produce aflatoxin. Osmotic pressures and moisture content (MC) levels of developing starch-rich corn kernels and lipid-rich cottonseed were determined. For in vivo studies, corn kernels and cottonseed were inoculated with A. parasiticus co...

The quality of Shea butter is highly affected by processing factors. Hence, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of conditioning duration (CD), moisture content (MC), and die temperature (DT) of screw expeller on Shea butter quality. A combination of 33 full factorial design and response surface methodology was used for this investigation. Response variables were refractive index, a...

Modification of soy protein film properties by heat-curing was studied. Glycerin-plasticized films were cast from alkaline aqueous solutions of soy protein isolate. Films were heated at 80 or 95°C for 2, 6, 14, or 24 h. Tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS), water vapor permeability (WVP), and color of heated and control films were measured...