Water Vapour Adsorption on Moisture Buffering Building Materials

Abstract

Moisture buffering in buildings relies on the passive adsorption of water vapour at high relative humidity by hygroscopic materials and the release of that vapour when humidity falls. Understanding the material properties and processes that guide the isotherm behaviour, enables the effective use of materials in construction to modulate indoor humidity fluctuations. Filling in the material characterisation data gap for heterogeneous materials commonly used in the construction industry provides an improved basis for modelling and effective specification. This research can transform the way we build our homes and improve our ability to deal with dampness and indoor air quality without relying on mechanical ventilation systems