A method to determine lumen volume and collapse degree of pulp fibers by using bottleneck effect of mercury porosimetry

On applying mercury porosimetry to wood blocks or paper sheets, the “bottleneck” effect due to pits of fibers occurs and thus lumen volume can be determined from the weight increase due to the remaining mercury. However, in addition to the mercury in the lumen, some mercury drops may also remain in the space between fibers within a paper sheet. The mercury between fibers increased with an increase of basis weight. Thus, a large number of paper sheets of low basis weight, such as 10 g·m⁻², should be used to determine the lumen volume of pulp fibers. Furthermore, in the case of fibers from mechanical pulp with many open cut fibers, mercury can retract from the open lumen such that the bottleneck effect due to pits does not occur. Therefore, the degree to which fibers are cut should also be considered for lumen volume determination. Although quantitative estimation of open cut fibers is difficult, the percentage of open cut fibers is quite low for the long fiber fraction. Thus, the remaining mercury for the long fiber fraction can be adopted as the lumen volume at least for practical purposes. Compared with the original lumen volume of the wood, the volumetric degree of fiber collapse was also estimated. Plausible values of almost 100% for lightly beaten KP and about 85% for slabwood thermomechanical pulp were obtained for the degree of collapse. Part of this report was presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, August 2006     

微米木纤维颈椎夹板的研制

以微米木纤维为材料替代国内外广泛采用的塑料与石膏而制作颈椎夹板,具有环保、绿色、与人体皮肤相容性好等优点。微米木纤维颈椎夹板是一种规则空间曲面加工的木质工件,为解决其双曲面造型的加工难题,目前这种复杂的夹板造型多先在专用模压机床上直接加工出不同曲线形状的夹板,之后使用普通数控机床或加工中心来进行形状修正。而建立微米木纤维颈椎夹板空间曲面的通用数学模型,利用模型参数驱动的通用性,直接由模型方程输入人体颈部相关尺寸参数,即可获得不同人群所需的加工尺寸,实现在一台机床上完成不规则曲面自动加工,可保证颈椎夹板造型的美观,并降低生产成本。VC++6.0对微米木纤维颈椎夹板造型进行的仿真验证表明,所建立的数学模型具有良好的精确性、通用性和实用性,为微米木纤维颈椎夹板加工系统的开发奠定理论基础。     

The breakdown mechanism of earlywood and latewood in refining

The principal objective of this research project is to study the breakdown mechanism of Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) in thermomechanical pulping by means of microscopic observations. Characteristics such as fiber splitting, shortening, delamination (internal fibrillation), external fibrillation, etc. are evaluated. Physical changes in the EW and LW fibers are qualified and quantified with the aid of light microscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy. The impacts of the observed changes on pulp and paper properties are assessed to establish possible interrelation between the fiber characteristics and paper properties.     

Effect of alkali treatment on wettability and thermal stability of individual bamboo fibers

The aim of this study is to examine the wettability and thermal properties of individual bamboo fibers after alkali treatment. The individual bamboo fibers were treated by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution with varying concentrations (6, 8, 10, 15 and 25%) followed by freeze-drying treatment. The surface analysis of alkali-treated individual bamboo fibers was characterized by atomic force microscope. Water droplet on the individual fiber surface was observed with drop shaper analyzer and the contact angles on fiber surface were also measured. Thermal properties were further studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that alkali treatment resulted in the increase in surface roughness of individual bamboo fibers. Alkali treatment with low NaOH concentration could enhance the wettability of treated individual bamboo fibers, and while the wettability was reduced with alkali treatment at high concentration (25%). Thermal analysis revealed that the onset of decomposition and the maximum decomposition were moved to higher temperature after alkali treatment at low NaOH concentrations (6, 8, and 10%), suggesting the improvement in the thermal stability of treated individual bamboo fibers, while the thermal stability was compromised after alkali treatment at higher concentrations (15 and 25%).     

Micromechanics of wood subjected to axial tension

Summary The behaviour of a small group of wood fibers of Sitka spruce during tensile loading is investigated. The load-extension curves for both early and late wood fibers consist of three distinct segments. The first segment is almost a straight line, at some stage of loading a yield point is observed. Beyond this point the specimen becomes less stiff and undergoes a large, mainly irreversible deformation. As the load is increased further, the curve exhibits the third segment showed by a significant change in slope. These curves look different from those obtained on thick specimens. In this respect, the behaviour of a thin wood specimen subjected to cyclic type tensile loading along its longitudinal direction is also illustrated. Based on wood microstructure, a model is presented to interpret the evolution of the Young's modulus of a wood fiber during tensile loading. The model considers wood as an assembly of cylindrical fibers pasted together in a longitudinal direction. We have assumed the cell wall to comprise only an S₂ layer made of a composite material consisting of a lignin and hemicellulose matrix reinforced by helical microfibrils along the fiber. Furthermore, it is assumed that the microfibril angle a in the S₂ layer is not uniform along the fiber axis and matrix degradation occurs in the zones where the microfibril angles are bigger. The validity of this assumption is verified by using holographic interferometry to visualize the displacement field of the specimen's surface under tension.The work reported in this paper is supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation, and its support is gratefully acknowledged     

Ultrasonic treatment to improve the quality of recycled pulp fiber

The effect of ultrasound on the quality of recycled fibers was investigated. Ultrasound was applied to recycled pulp fiber suspension before ink removal by conventional flotation. The ultrasonic treatment induced an increase in the sedimentation volume of the fiber, which implies that the flexibility and bulkiness of the fiber increase. The water retention value of the ultrasonically treated fiber recovered from the loss caused by the recycling. These facts are due to a beating effect of the treatment. The paper sheets prepared from the ultrasonically treated fiber suspension showed higher sheet density, tensile strength, and brightness than that from an untreated fiber suspension. The process, which consists of ultrasonic treatment for 1 min following flotation deinking, requires about 1.4 times as much energy as the conventional flotation deinking process, but it induced 20% improvement in brightness. The results indicate that the ultrasonic treatment is effective in improving recycled fiber quality.This report was presented in part at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998; and at the 5th Annual Meeting of the Japan Cellulose Society, Kyoto, July 1998     

超声辅助提取对竹纤维结构和机械性能的影响

文章以超声波辅助提取竹纤维,研究超声波处理以及超声波处理方式（前超声和后超声）对低试剂量条件下提取竹纤维结构和热性能的影响。结果表明：超声波处理应用于低试剂量竹纤维提取,可降低竹纤维胶质含量,改善竹纤维细度和细度均匀性。用后超声辅助提取竹纤维,竹纤维胶质含量可降低13.2%,纤维直径由489±247 μm降至224±52 μm,平均直径降低率达54.2%。超声辅助提取对竹纤维机械性能有一定程度的影响,对竹纤维拉伸强度略有降低,拉伸模量下降明显,断裂伸长率略有提高,机械强度均匀性增加;后超声辅助提取较前超声辅助提取对竹纤维的机械性能降低程度小。经提取工艺,竹纤维结晶度增加,但超声辅助提取竹纤维结晶度又略有下降,未超声竹纤维结晶度为56.50%,后超声竹纤维结晶度为55.89%,前超声竹纤维结晶度为56.25%;傅里叶红外光谱分析表明,竹纤维化学结构变化主要由纤维提取工艺引起,超声处理对纤维结构影响不明显;通过电镜观察,经纤维提取工艺,原竹材结构中被胶质包覆的单纤维形态暴露,单丝状明显,超声辅助提取增加了纤维表面粗糙度,后超声辅助提取单丝分散性增强;总体上,超声辅助提取可促进低试剂量条件下的长竹纤维提取,对纤维细度有明显改善效果,但对纤维结构和机械性能影响不大。     

A morphological study on the behavior of bamboo pulp fibers in the beating process

Summary Bamboo pulp fibers respond to beating more rapidly than do wood fibers. This is probably due to the difference in secondary wall structure between the fibers. In the present paper, the behavior on beating of pulp fibers from Bambusa polymorpha Munro was investigated from a morphological point of view. The secondary wall of bamboo fibers consists of alternately arranged broad and narrow layers. During the beating process, a number of transverse and concentric cracks are generated in the broad layers, which causes an internal fibrillation. The outer broad layers with their numerous cracks separate from the inner layers and swell highly toward the outside. The outer secondary wall layer of bamboo fibers has a microfibril angle of about 20° with respect to the fiber axis which is much smaller than that of the S1 layer of wood fibers. As a result this layer appears to offer little resistance to prevent the external swelling of the broad layers.Part of this work was financially supported by a Grand-in Aid for Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Japan, 57470095Currently with the Japan Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Inc., Tsukaba, Japan     

Fast Fourier Transform and Filtered Image Analyses of Fiber Orientation in OSB

The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between resolution of images and measurement of fiber orientation in oriented strand board with the ultimate aim of optimising the fiber orientation and quality of the manufactured product. An important consideration has been the capture of images from a distance of 2 meters corresponding to conditions on an OSB production line. In this paper, Filtered Image Analysis (FIA) was used to measure fiber orientation at different resolutions, and results were compared with those for strand grid models. These grid models were adopted to investigate how the FIA technique measures orientation. A two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was also investigated as a comparative method for measuring fiber orientation. The following conclusions can be drawn: the FFT analysis measures the periodicity of lines and indicates the orientation of lines. The FIA measures the orientation of zones surrounded by lines and shows the orientation of the zones. Hence, the FFT analysis and the FIA analysis measure orientation differently. Both methods are able to measure the fiber orientation of the OSB from a high resolution image. In addition the FIA technique could also measure the fiber orientation from low-resolution images and from a distance of 2 meters. In conclusion, whilst the FFT method is able to analyse high resolution images successfully, the FIA method is superior for analysing low resolution images and the orientation of OSB strands under production condition. Received 16 November 1999     

Production and harvest of fibers from Aphandra natalia (Palmae) in Ecuador

Aphandra natalia (Balslev & Henderson) Barfod is native to the western Amazon. It is exploited commercially for its leaf sheath and petiole fibers, which are used for brooms. Data from a 2 year study on production and harvest of fibers in the province of Morona-Santiago in Ecuador shows correlations to exist between the degree of the palm's exposure to light and leaf production, and between exposure to light and petiole length (maximum fiber length), while correlation is absent between exposure to light and fiber load per leaf. A linear relation was found between time and leaf production, with an overall average of 5.5 leaves produced per palm per year. No difference in leaf production of male and female palms was found among palms growing at low light intensities, while among palms in open, light-exposed areas, males were found to produce significantly more leaves than females. An average of 8.5 leaves are cut per palm per harvest, yielding 3.4 kg of fibers, while 6.9 leaves are left untouched. Average harvest time per palm is 33 min. Under optimal conditions (high densities of easy accessible palms), one harvester may harvest and clean about 20 kg of fibers in 1 day, selling at US$1.1 kg⁻¹. One hectare with high, but natural, densities of the palm may produce fibers worth US$460 per year, which can be harvested and prepared in 22 work days. Exploitation of the edible fruits may be combined with fiber extraction if female palms are left to produce fruits, while male palms are exploited for fibers, or if harvest frequency of fibers from female palms is lowered considerably below the average of once every 1.55 years. The exploitation practised in the study area appears sustainable.     

Natural durability of the culturally and historically important timber: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erythrophleum fordii</Emphasis> wood against white-rot fungi

The natural resistance of Erythrophleum fordii Oliver wood to degradation by Phanerochaete sordida and Phanerochaete chrysosporium white-rot fungi was investigated. In this study, Fagus crenata Blume (Japanese beech) was selected as reference species. The results showed that both fungi caused less than 2% mass loss in E. fordii wood, while the degradation of beech wood produced by P. chrysosporium and P. sordida was approximately 12 and 14%, respectively. Microscopic observations revealed high structural rigidity of E. fordii timber. Hyphae were only observed in the lumen of vessels and parenchymal cells, while the fibers were not affected. The E. fordii wood fiber consisted of highly lignified thick-walled fibers with the fiber lumina almost completely closed. Two-dimensional heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance evaluation revealed the E. fordii wood to have a highly condensed-lignin structure that reflected by the durability classes. These unique parameters are likely to be critical for the high natural resistance of E. fordii.     

慈竹竹原纤维与黄麻纤维红外及二维相关光谱分析

以慈竹竹原纤维和黄麻纤维为对象,采用红外光谱法和二维相关红外光谱分析技术,对2种纤维及其化学处理后的单根纤维进行研究。结果表明:慈竹竹原纤维和黄麻纤维的一维红外光谱主要区别于1736cm-1处的CO伸缩振动和木质素苯环特征吸收峰;二者经双氧水-冰醋酸处理后,黄麻单根纤维在1736cm-1附近仍存在明显的吸收峰。在高分辨的二维同步相关谱中,慈竹竹原纤维和黄麻纤维特征差异更为明显,慈竹竹原纤维在1000～1250cm-1范围内有8个自动峰,1008cm-1处强度最大;黄麻纤维有7个自动峰,1217cm-1处强度最大;同时在1435～1750cm-1范围内,黄麻纤维在1726cm-1(C=O伸缩振动)处出现较强的自动峰,而慈竹竹原纤维光谱中没有。各区域内自动峰均为正相关。与化学处理前纤维谱图相比,二者单根纤维的二维相关红外光谱发生了改变,表明纤维成分对其热微扰过程中的变化有一定影响。初步研究表明:二维相关红外光谱为竹原纤维的识别提供了更为丰富的信息,可作为竹原纤维识别的一种新方法。     

Fiber charge characteristics of pulp suspension containing aluminum sulfate

Fiber charge characteristics of pulp suspensions containing aluminum sulfate were investigated with relation to adsorption behavior of aluminum components on the pulp fibers by streaming potential measurement using a particle charge detector, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence analysis. When aluminum sulfate was added to a pulp suspension prepared using deionized water, a streaming potential of the suspension went from negative to slightly negative according to the adsorption of aluminum components on the pulp fibers. Subsequent addition of a dilute NaOH solution to the suspension drastically cationized the fibers in the pH range of around 5 by predominant and homogeneous adsorption of cationic aluminum complexes on the fiber surfaces. However, the aluminum flocs that formed heterogeneously on the fiber surfaces at higher pH by further alkali addition made nearly no contribution to cationization of the fibers, although the abundant aluminum components were retained in the pulp sheets. Therefore, only aluminum cations adsorbed uniformly on the fiber surfaces perform well to control the charge properties of the pulp fibers at the wet end; and the preferential aluminum adsorption behavior on the fiber surfaces, by utilizing the required amounts of hydroxyl ions, probably accounts for the effective cationization of the fibers under acidic to neutral papermaking conditions.This research was presented in part at the presymposium of the International Symposium on Wood and Pulping Chemistry, Seoul, June 1999; at the International Symposium on Environmentally Friendly and Emerging Technologies for a Sustainable Pulp and Paper Industry, Taipei, April 2000; and at the 2000 annual meeting of the Society of Fiber Science and Technology, Japan, Kyoto, June 2000     

Anatomy and lignin distribution of reaction wood in two Magnolia species

Summary Anatomical features of reaction wood formed in two Magnolia species, M. obovata Thunb. and M. kobus DC. which are considered to be among the primitive angiosperms, were observed. In addition, the distribution of guaiacyl and syringyl units of lignins in the cell walls of normal and reaction wood was examined using ultraviolet (UV)- and visible light (VL)- microspectrophotometry coupled with the Wiesner and M?ule reactions. The two Magnolia species formed a tension-like reaction wood without possessing the typical gelatinous layer (G-layer) on the upper side of the inclined stem or branch, in which a radial growth promotion occurred. Compared with the normal wood, the reaction wood had the following anatomical features: (1) the secondary walls of fiber tracheids lacked the S₃ layer, (2) the innermost layer of fiber-tracheid walls showed a small microfibril angle, a fact being similar to the orientation of the microfibril angle of the G-layer in tension wood, and (3) the amounts of lignin decreased in the cell walls of fiber tracheids, especially with great decrease in proportion of guaiacyl units in lignins. In addition, VL-microspectrophotometry coupled with the Wiesner and M?ule reactions adopted in the present study showed potential to estimate the lignin contents in the cell walls and the proportion of guaiacyl and syringyl units in lignins. Received: 15 July 1998     

Bending characteristics of bamboo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllostachys pubescens</Emphasis>) with respect to its fiber–foam composite structure

The bending properties of split bamboo culm were compared with those of spruce and beech wood specimens. The bamboo allowed large flexural deformation since its outer layer retains the tensile stress while the softer inner layer undergoes large compressive deformation. The results suggested that the combination of the fiber-rich outer part and the compressible inner part was responsible for the flexural ductility of split bamboo. To clarify the compressible nature of the inner part of bamboo, the longitudinal surfaces of the bamboo and wood specimens were microscopically observed before and after a large longitudinal compression. Although the wood specimens showed serious and localized buckling, the inner part of the bamboo specimens showed no such visible buckling. In the latter case, the foam-like parenchyma cells absorbed the large compressive deformation by their microscopic buckling and simultaneously, the alignment of sclerenchyma fibers was maintained by the surrounding parenchyma matrix. The flexural elasticity of the bamboo was compared to that of the wood in respect of remaining strain during cyclic bending tests. No clear difference was recognized between their remaining strains. This fact indicated that the bamboo was not so flexible elastically, although its fiber–foam combination and intelligent fiber distribution improve flexural ductility.     

Morphological changes of ramie fiber during mercerization

Morphological changes of ramie fibers due to swelling in alkali solution were investigated. The observed twisting and changes in the cross-sectional shape of the fibers could be explained as a geometrical alteration caused by lateral expansion of coiling fibrils, as the unmercerized ramie fiber showed an S-helix structure. The fibril angle of ramie fibers was estimated to be 3°. Although the swollen fiber untwisted to some extent on washing with water, the shape of the twisted ribbons as observed by scanning electron microscopy was retained even after drying. Concentrated 8N NaOH produced only a moderate change in morphology, whereas swelling with 3.5N NaOH at 0°C expanded the cross sections about 30 times over the initial ones accompanied by a drastic change in the shape of the fiber.Part of this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Wood Research Society of Japan in Kumamoto, April 1996     

Z-Directional distribution of fiber orientation of Japanese and western papers determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Confocal laser scanning microscopy was applied to visualize inside fibers stained with a fluorescent dye, and the fiber orientation distribution in the thickness direction was determined by image analysis from optically sliced images. Fiber orientation angle and anisotropy were determined by the fast Fourier transform method, which holds advantages over the conventionally applied Hough transform with regard to evaluation of fiber width-weighted contribution and intrafiber segmental contribution. An orthogonally layered Japanese paper handmade by the flow-sheet forming method resulted in a clear change of fiber orientation angle from 0° to 90°. Machine-made wood-containing printing paper showed the highest anisotropy, while copier paper showed a low anisotropy. Thick papers like the wood-free paperboard and recycled packaging board showed that the maximum measured thickness was about 150 μm. The depth limit to detect fluorescence was considered to depend on the apparent density of the paper and the light absorption character of the fibers. Part of this study was presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Sapporo, Japan, August 2004     

喀斯特森林植被自然恢复中土壤团聚体有机碳含量与团聚体分形特征

采用空间代替时间的方法,研究了茂兰喀斯特森林自然恢复中土壤团聚体有机碳含量与团聚体分形特征。结果表明:同一恢复阶段的同一土层中1 2 mm、0.5 1 mm团聚体质量百分比(4.74%52.37%)与其质量百分比有机碳贡献率(2.87%59.98%)均高于0.25 0.5 mm、<0.25 mm团聚体;相同土层中的相同粒级团聚体土壤有机碳含量(0 10 cm土层23.47 55.82 g·kg-1,>20 cm土层14.36 36.80 g·kg-1)与其质量百分比有机碳含量(0 10 cm土层1.34 22.12 g·kg-1,>20 cm土层0.57 11.93 g·kg-1)均随植被自然恢复呈增加趋势;同一恢复阶段的相同粒级团聚体土壤有机碳含量(0 10 cm土层23.47 55.82 g·kg-1,>20 cm土层14.36 36.80 g·kg-1)与其质量百分比有机碳含量(0 10 cm土层1.34 22.12 g·kg-1,>20 cm土层0.5711.93 g·kg-1)随土层加深呈减少趋势;同一恢复阶段的同一土层团聚体中1 2 mm团聚体中有机碳含量(16.9053.43 g·kg-1)最低但其质量百分比有机碳含量(5.24 22.12 g·kg-1)最高;随植被自然恢复土壤团聚体分形维数在0 10 cm土层(2.01 2.16)呈增加趋势、在>20 cm土层(2.04 2.24)呈减小趋势;喀斯特森林植被自然恢复中土壤结构演化的核心可能是上层土壤细化和下层土壤粗化;喀斯特森林植被自然恢复中土壤结构有所改善;土壤团聚体分形维数可以作为喀斯特植被自然恢复中土壤有机碳质量评价的指标;加强保护喀斯特森林使其自然恢复,既有利于土壤结构的改善与减少侵蚀,也有利于土壤有机碳循环和累积。     

Real-time spectral classification of compression wood inPicea abies

Compression wood is formed by the living tree to compensate for external loads. It creates wood fibers with properties undesirable in sawn products. Automatic detection of compression wood can lead to production advantages. A wood surface was scanned with a spectrometer, and compression wood was detected by analyzing the spectral composition of light reflected from the wood surface within the visible spectrum. Linear prediction models for compression wood in Norway spruce (Picea abies) were produced using multivariate analysis and regression methods. The resulting prediction coefficients were implemented in a scanning system using the MAPP2200 smart image sensor combined with an imaging spectrograph. This scanning system is capable of making a pixelwise classification of a wood surface in real time. Classification of one spruce plank was compared with analysis by scanning electron microscopy, showing that the automatic classification was correct in 11 of 14 cases.     

汽爆压力对无胶棉秆纤维板性能的影响

不添加任何化学助剂,在不同汽爆压力下进行棉秆解纤,将解纤后的纤维热压制成无胶纤维板.分析了汽爆压力对棉秆纤维形态、化学成分以及无胶纤维板产品性能的影响.结果表明,随着汽爆压力的增大,纤维分离程度提高,纤维中游离酸、游离糖及游离醇的质量分数含量增加,试板的内结合强度增大,但静曲强度和弹性模量则减小.