Specific heat capacity of wood between -140 and 50 °C in dry and wet state

Specific heat capacity of wood is an important material property for fundamental research and timber technology. However, the existing database for heat capacity values is limited, especially for data below 0 °C. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the specific heat capacity of wood with different moisture contents (dry, below and above fibre saturation) in lower temperature. Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), equipped with a liquid nitrogen-cooling device, using the sapphire standard. Specific heat capacity for beech and pine were linear within the investigated temperature region. Values above 0 °C are in agreement with existing literature. Both species showed similar results. Based on the obtained results the specific heat capacity for bound water was calculated. The presented results are an important step for increasing the database of wood heat capacity. These findings enable future research for calculating heat-flux, diffusion and moisture transfer in wood.