SEM and shrinkage analyses of Southern Pine wood following pyrolysis

Summary Samples of Southern Pine (Pinus spp.) charred to 250°, 300°, 350°, 400° or 600°C in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere at rates of 1°, 10° and 50°C/min were examined using the scanning electron microscope to quantify changes in cross-sectional tracheid dimensions. The disappearance of discrete cell wall layers was time-dependent as opposed to strictly temperature-dependent. Tracheid diameters decreased in response to temperature and charring rate. Double cell wall thickness values also decreased in response to charring. This shrinkage was nearly isotropic. Below 300°C, latewood cells were more stable than earlywood cells. Above 300°C, the reverse was true. This was attributed to the probable circumferential arrangement of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin within the cell wall. The highest rate of thermal degradation was between 300° and 350°C.The sample material was prepared by F. C. Beall and D. H. Slocum at the University of TorontoThe authors are Assistant Professor of Forestry, Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Forestry, respectively, at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia