The Effect of Temperature on the Surface Tension of Sap of <i>Thuja Plicata</i> Heartwood

Authors

  • A. J. Bolton
  • G. Koutsianitis

Keywords:

Sap, surface tension, temperature, contact angle, Thuja plicata

Abstract

Capillary rise and drop volume methods were applied to the measurement of heartwood sap surface tension. Increase in sap temperature appeared to cause a substantial decrease in surface tension as measured by the former method. Since with the latter method surface tension values only decreased from 58.1 to 56.8 dyne/cm over the temperature range 25 to 80 C, it was concluded that changes in the contact angle of sap on glass were likely to have affected the results obtained by the capillary rise method. The absence of a substantial decrease in sap surface tension with increasing temperature is of considerable relevance to lumber drying.

References

Bartell, F. E., and E. J. Merrill. 1932. Determination of adhesion tension of liquids against solids: A microscopic method for the measurement of interfacial contact angles. J. Phys. Chem. 36(4): 1178-1198.nGlasstone, S. 1946. Textbook of physical chemistry. 2nd ed. MacMillan, London.nKaye, G. W. C., and T. H. Laby. 1973. Tables of physical and chemical constants and some mathematical functions. 14th ed. Longmans, London.nKoutsianitis, G. 1978. A study of collapse in timber drying. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Wales.nHarkis, W. D., and A. E. Alexander. 1959. Surface and interfacial tension. In A. Weissberger., ed. Technique of organic chemistry. 3rd ed. Interscience, New York.nHolland, L. A. 1964. The properties of glass surfaces. Chapman and Hall, London.nMoser, F. 1956. The glass industry. April Issue. Cited by Holland (1964).nPartington, J. R. 1951. An advanced treatise on physical chemistry: Vol. 2 The properties of liquids. Longmans, Green and Co., London.nStamm, A. J., and D. G. Arganbright. 1970. Surface tension of the sap of several species of wood. Wood Fiber 2(1):65-66.n

Downloads

Published

2007-06-27

Issue

Section

Research Contributions