Determination of the surface fractal dimension from sorption isotherms of five softwoods

This paper presents the determination of the surface fractal dimensions from water adsorption/desorption data of five softwood species by using three different methods. The Frenkel-Holsi-Hill model of polymolecular sorption on a fractal surface by allowing capillary condensation is shown to be the best method. Using this method, the fractal dimensions were found to be close to 2.5 and 2.4 from desorption and adsorption isotherms respectively. Moreover, they were shown to slightly vary between species, and between sapwood and heartwood for the temperature range of 30 to 60 degrees C, but with no clearly identifiable temperature effect.