Due to practical need to improve the accuracy of measurement of wood electrical resistance via creating multivariate calibration models the study of electrode effects was carried out. The experiments were made in DC mode and five types of electrode effects were measured: electrical resistance of the galvanic contact between the measuring electrode and wood, corrosion of measuring electrodes in wet wood, polarization and depolarization of the double layer forming on the surface of the measuring electrodes, residual polarization voltage between measuring electrodes and effect of repeated use of measuring electrodes. For multi-channel measurement mode effect of neighbouring electrodes was measured. Behind each of these factors is a complex transfer mechanism of free and bounded charge carriers from wood to measuring electrodes. Among the factors, polarization and depolarization have an immediate effect (duration of the processes in seconds) while resistance of electrode/wood contact, corrosion of electrodes and residual polarization have a slow effect (duration of processes in hours). For pine sapwood, coefficients of the Stamm formula were found in moisture contents (MC) above the fibre saturation point. It was determined that wood polarization and depolarization indicators are dependent on wood moisture content as is the case with wood electrical resistance. Compared to wood electrical resistance, wood polarization proved approximately four times and depolarization approximately eight times less sensitive to moisture content variation.
In wood moisture contents above fibre saturation point (FSP) the measuring accuracy of resistance type sensors starts decreasing and several side effects related to measuring wood moisture begin to occur. These side effects can be taken into account in the measuring process and can be eliminated. This research examined wood charging and discharging in the process of measurements, phenomena related to repeated measurements in both a single electrode insertion spot and different insertion spots in the specimen made of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood and black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). The research presented approaching equations separately for the voltage and current of the polarization and depolarization process for the initial phase of the process. Empirical equations were found for wood electrical resistance and electrical capacitance in the polarization process. For black alder possibilities for calibration of a resistance meter and resistance type electrodes were explored. It was found that to improve the calibration accuracy of resistance type measuring electrodes an additional individual calibration with regard to the average moisture content of the specimen may be carried out with the electrodes above FSP. Research results can be implemented in monitoring the wood drying process using resistance type wood moisture sensors, but also in determining the electrical parameters of growing trees.
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