Hysteresis

Sorption Cycle

Plotting the relationship between relative humidity and fiber moisture content reveals two distinct curves that form a closed loop. The effect of hysteresis is most pronounced in the mid-range of relative humidity, where the moisture content of the flax can vary by several percentage points depending on the direction of the process. In a wet-spinning mill, this behavior must be accounted for when conditioning roving packages before spinning.

This ensures that the fiber reaches a consistent moisture level regardless of whether the packages were stored in a damp or dry room first.

Testing Precision

Standard testing procedures require drying the samples before conditioning them to ensure they all approach equilibrium from the same direction. Ignoring hysteresis leads to incorrect moisture calculations that can skew the commercial value of a flax shipment. This testing protocol ensures that all buyers and sellers use a consistent baseline for trade.