The electrical resistivity of resin-treated wood and laminated hydrolyzed-wood and paper-base plastics

WOOD in the dry state is an excellent dielectric, having a volume resistivity in the range of 3 × 10¹⁷ to 3 × 10¹⁸ ohmcentimeters.² The resistivity decreases rapidly, however, with an increase in moisture content, reaching values of 10⁵ to 10⁶ ohm-centimeters at the fiber-saturation point (30-per-cent moisture content on the basis of the dry weight of the wood).⁵ This tremendous change in the electrical resistance of wood with changes in moisture content, which so overshadows the variations due to varying species and specific gravity and ash content of the wood, ^4,6 furnishes an excellent means of measuring the moisture content of wood.^6,12