Reliability Study of Equilibrium Moisture Content Methods for Sorption/Desorption Isotherms Determination of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete

Abstract

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and its hygric parameters are a highly important issue in the field of building physics. There are several methods currently available to determine the equilibrium moisture content of building materials. Beside the conventional ones, new methods are constantly being introduced. This study explores the sorption/desorption properties of of three types of commercially produced AACs with three different bulk densities and demonstrates the application of the relevant methods available to characterize these parameters. The reliable characterization of the studied material was done through the conventional static approach, using the desiccator and an environmental chamber, and a new automated method of dynamic vapor sorption is implemented. The goal is to compare and identify the reliability of all methods used with respect to the efficiency of the data measurement process. Sound consistency between the results of the conventional methods and the experimental data obtained indicates the dynamic vapor sorption technique is highly reliable when measuring the equilibrium moisture content—particularly exemplified during the AAC sample testing. Therefore, the methodology developed in this study is expected to provide the reference for measuring the sorption/desorption isotherms of building materials with both static and automated techniques.