Measurement of cell wall penetration in wood of water-based chemicals using SEM/EDS and STEM/EDS technique

Summary The penetration of bulking chemicals (glycerol, PEG 200, PEG 1500 and pentaerythritol) into the cell wall of wood, Pinus sylvestris, has been studied. A number of different methods for determining the distribution of chemicals in the cell wall were used. Measurements of the increase in cell wall thickness showed that glycerol and PEG 200 resulted in greater cell wall bulking compared to PEG 1500 and pentaerythritol. Examination with SEM/EDS-linescan confirmed these results. However, the better resolution possible with the STEM/EDS-linescan revealed an inhomogenous distribution of the chemical in the cell wall. This is believed to be due to microcracks in the cell wall which are the result of the initial drying of the wood. This general damage to the cell wall could be the reason for the failure to find a stabilizing chemical and method. Received 10 February 1997