Abstract

This paper deals with the transfer of heat and moisture in a pile of leathers with impermeable boundaries, which is caused by a jump in temperature at the boundaries. It is proved mathematically that changes in temperature take place in two “waves”, with diffusion coefficients derived using the Henry theory of the simultaneous diffusion in porous sorbing materials, although the resulting relationships may be obtained only by use of a more common procedure under even more common assumptions than Henry’s method. The results are compared with the experimental and theoretical data of Mitton and Dowsett obtained by use of an approximate solution with which they provide a good agreement. In conclusion, some important practical consequences of both the process and mathematical theory are mentioned.