higrotermikus

Higrotermikus is a term used to describe the study of the combined influence of humidity and temperature on materials, systems, and environments. It covers how moisture transport and heat transfer interact and how these interactions affect physical properties, performance, and durability.

In architecture and building physics, higrotermisk analysis assesses the hygrothermal performance of envelopes, insulation, and assemblies. It involves moisture diffusion, condensation risk, thermal resistance, and long-term durability, informing material selection and design decisions to minimize moisture-related damage and energy losses.

In materials science and engineering, higrotermics examine moisture-induced changes in strength, stiffness, dimensional stability (hygroscopic swelling), and aging under varying humidity and temperature. It supports accelerated aging tests, reliability assessments, and the development of polymers, wood, concrete, and composite materials that withstand moisture and temperature cycles.

Measurement and modeling of higrotermic processes rely on experiments in climate chambers and field conditions, using sensors to monitor temperature and relative humidity. Hygric-thermal models solve coupled heat and moisture transfer equations and require properties such as sorption isotherms, diffusion coefficients, and boundary conditions to predict performance under different climates.

The term is closely related to hygrometry, hygrothermics, and the concept of the hygrothermal environment. While "higrotermikus" may appear in non-English literatures, its core idea—analyzing the joint effects of humidity and temperature—is widely used in building physics, material science, agriculture, and packaging to understand performance under combined moisture and temperature stress.