feuchte

Feuchte is a German noun that generally refers to moisture or dampness. In everyday and technical usage, it denotes the amount of water present in air, materials, or objects. In meteorology and building physics, the term appears in phrases such as Luftfeuchte (air humidity) and relative Feuchte, which describes how much water vapor the air contains relative to its maximum capacity at a given temperature.

Moisture can be described in several related ways. Relative humidity (percent of water vapor in air relative to saturation) is the most common measure for air, while absolute humidity expresses the mass of water per volume of air, and specific humidity refers to the mass of water per unit mass of moist air. In materials science, Feuchte often refers to moisture content, typically given as a percentage of water by mass, a key factor for properties like swelling, strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal behavior.

Moisture influences safety, comfort, and durability. Excessive Feuchte can promote mold growth, wood decay, and corrosion, especially in buildings and electronics, whereas too-low moisture can cause cracking or static electricity issues. Controlling Feuchte is important in industries such as construction, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and electronics to maintain quality and performance.

Measurement tools include hygrometers and psychrometers for air humidity, and moisture meters or oven-drying methods for solids. The concept of Feuchte is closely tied to related ideas like dew point, humidity control, and moisture management.