Why must wood have enough moisture before it is ground into pulp?

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paper mill — papermaking Paper mill in British Columbia, Canada.

In the process of papermaking, maintaining adequate moisture content in pulpwood is essential for the efficiency of the grinding process and the resulting quality of the pulp.1

Ideally, the moisture level should be between 45 and 50 percent, with a minimum requirement of 30 percent. If the wood has a low moisture content, it must be presoaked in a pond or sprayed with water before it is processed. Proper hydration ensures that the wood can be ground effectively, which is critical for producing high-quality mechanical or groundwood pulp.1