Measuring compression wood severity in spruce

As the severity of compression wood influences the mechanical and chemical properties of wood it is desirable to be able to measure compression wood severity. However, so far no satisfactory method has been reported in the literature. Here we describe how scanning FTIR micro-spectroscopy can be empl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wood science and technology 2009-05, Vol.43 (3-4), p.279-290
Main Authors: Altaner, Clemens M, Tokareva, Elena N, Wong, Janet C. T, Hapca, Adrian I, McLean, J. Paul, Jarvis, Michael C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ceramics
Chemical properties
Composites
Compression
Compression tests
Engineering Sciences
Glass
Infrared spectroscopy
Karst
Life Sciences
Machines
Manufacturing
Mechanics
Mechanics of materials
Natural Materials
Organic chemistry
Original
Physics
Picea abies
Picea sitchensis
Pine trees
Processes
Sawdust
Spectrum analysis
Wood Science & Technology
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Summary:As the severity of compression wood influences the mechanical and chemical properties of wood it is desirable to be able to measure compression wood severity. However, so far no satisfactory method has been reported in the literature. Here we describe how scanning FTIR micro-spectroscopy can be employed to achieve CW severity measurements on increment cores of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L. Karst.) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière). Radial wood strips were converted into sawdust by a process that maintained their spatial orientation. Samples prepared in this way were scanned with an FTIR-microscope in reflective mode and from the spectra obtained a CW-indicator was calculated representing aromatic and carboxyl signals. This FTIR CW-indicator correlated well with alternative CW identification techniques (namely microfibril angle, transmitted light and immunolabelling of beta 1-4 galactan), which have been used to validate the method. Repeatability of the measurements was good and no systematic difference between spruce species was found. The achievable resolution of the measurements was of sub-mm order. The CW indicator described offers the opportunity to correlate CW severity with mechanical wood properties in spruce.
ISSN:0043-7719
1432-5225
DOI:10.1007/s00226-008-0226-1