Surface analysis of explosion pulps by ESCA Part 1. Carbon (1s) spectra and oxygen-to-carbon ratios

Summary The surface composition of explosion pulp and conventional CMP and CTMP underwent ESCA spectroscopy. Explosion pulps exhibited a higher oxygen-to-carbon ratio and less C1 peak areas compared to conventional CMP/CTMP. Based on the theoretical O/C ratios and C1 contents for the main components of wood fibers (i.e., carbohydrates, lignin and extractives), a triangular graph was used to illustrate the relative amounts of the three components on the surface. This analysis indicated that explosion pulps had more carbohydrates exposed on their fiber surface, which may explain their high physical strength. A bulk analysis indicated that these differences could not depend on their bulk compositions, since the latter were similar.