Steam's Effect on Wood: A Gedanken Experiment

[vin300]

I have a piece of wood, I decide to insert it into a steamer to observe what happens, because I'm not sure. There could be multiple possibilities. Wood has conductive tissue, steam may get trapped within pressing it outwards. The temperature dependent expansion definitely happens. But steam not being able to penetrate may press it inwards, causing effective compression. Thus far, this is rather "gedanken" experiment.

 

[Bystander]

not being able to penetrate

Once you've done the experiment, get back to us for some discussion.

 

[phinds]

Far more important than any slight temporary change in the size of a piece of wood in a steamer, the wood becomes relatively soft and many woods can be easily bent right after being steamed whereas they cannot when dry.