X-ray studies of wood, lignin and wood-cellulose

Abstract

The structure of teakwood has been examined by means of X-rays. It has been found that in the annual ring of the heartwood there is almost perfect micellar orientation with respect to the fibre-axis in the brown compact layer, while in the less compact layers there is a relatively large error of orientation. In fact, as we proceed from the most compact towards the least compact layer in the annual ring, there is progressive dis-orientation of the micelles in the fibre. Extraction of wood with various solvents, and chemical treatment, are found to affect the disposition of the micelles relative to the fibre-axis to a marked extent, and these changes have been studied. It has been confirmed that when wood swells in water there is no change of crystal lattice; the phenomenon is intermicellar. Wood-structure near the region of knots and the structural differences along tangential and radial directions have also been investigated.