### Wood Moisture Content
Wood moisture content refers to the amount of water present within a piece of wood. It is a critical factor in wood’s stability, durability, and susceptibility to rot and damage. Moisture content is typically expressed as a percentage of the wood’s oven-dry weight.
### Can Wood Contain Over 100% Moisture Content?
Under certain conditions, wood can indeed contain over 100% moisture content. This phenomenon occurs when the wood is fully saturated with water, and additional water is present in the cell cavities or on the surface of the wood.
When wood is submerged in water, it absorbs moisture until its cell cavities are completely filled. At this point, the wood is said to be at its fiber saturation point, typically around 30% moisture content. However, if the wood is allowed to remain submerged for an extended period, water can continue to penetrate the cell walls, increasing the moisture content beyond the fiber saturation point.
In such cases, the moisture content of the wood can exceed 100% as the additional water is held in the cell cavities and on the surface of the wood. However, it is important to note that this excess moisture is not bound to the wood fibers and can be easily removed by drying.