Thermal Conductivity Method

What are the official methods of moisture content determination?

The thermal conductivity method is an indirect method of moisture content determination that is based on the principle that the thermal conductivity of a material is affected by its moisture content. The higher the moisture content, the lower the thermal conductivity. This method is commonly used for determining the moisture content of soils, building materials, and other porous materials.

Procedure:

1. A sample of the material is placed in a thermal conductivity cell. 2. The thermal conductivity cell is placed in a temperature-controlled environment. 3. A heat source is applied to one side of the thermal conductivity cell, and the temperature of the other side is measured. 4. The thermal conductivity of the material is calculated based on the temperature difference and the applied heat.

Advantages:

• The thermal conductivity method is a relatively simple and inexpensive method.
• The method can be used to measure the moisture content of a wide variety of materials.

Disadvantages:

• The thermal conductivity method is not as accurate as some other methods of moisture content determination.
• The method can be affected by the presence of other factors, such as temperature and density.
• The thermal conductivity method can be difficult to use on materials that are not porous.