Water absorption

Water absorption can have significant effects on materials, particularly with regard to their physical properties. When materials absorb water, they often react with a change in their length. This change is usually between a quarter and a third of the amount of water absorbed.

In other words, this means that a water absorption of 1 percent can cause the material to lengthen by about 0.25 to 0.33 percent. These changes are important to take into account, as they can play a role in various applications, from construction to the manufacture of textiles.