The relevance of density measures in the determination of PEG impregnation concentrations by the PEGcon computer program

Abstract

The PEGcon calculation model is used to estimate the required final concentration of lower and higher Polyethylenglykol (PEG) in mixed solutions for the conservation of waterlogged wood followed by vacuum freeze drying. It requires the density of the wood species. Different subjects of reference are used in different countries to express density measures. In Europe, the density is usually given by the relation of oven dry weight to oven dry volume. In North America it is common to give the relation of oven dry weight to green volume or to the specific gravity referring to water. The computer based calculation model requires the American type of measures. The measures from European specimen can be transformed by the measures of the maximum swelling or shrinkage.