Water Absorption of Wooden Pallets
Siripong Malasri, Ali Pourhashemi, Phyo Aung, Mallory Harvey, Robert Moats

Abstract
Wooden pallets are often left outdoors and subjected to rainwater. Water can seep upward and damage the packages stored on these pallets. A comprehensive study was performed using a total of 36 specimens taken from hardwood, heat-treated hardwood, softwood, and heat-treated softwood new pallets. Another four specimens, taken from softwood used pallets, were also used to compare with new pallet specimens. Findings include: water penetration height could penetrate up to the top deck board, water penetration data is more consistent in hardwood than in softwood, water penetrates faster and slightly higher in hardwood, heat treatment has only a little effect on water penetration, and little difference is found in used and new pallet specimens.

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