Mechanical properties of cellulose fibres and wood. Orientational aspects in situ investigated with synchrotron radiation

• Published in: Journal of synchrotron radiation 2005-11, Vol.12 (6), p.739-744
• Main Authors: Kölln, Klaas, Grotkopp, Ingo, Burghammer, Manfred, Roth, Stephan V., Funari, Sergio S., Dommach, Martin, Müller, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellulose - ultrastructure; cellulose fibres; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Exact sciences and technology; flax; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; mechanical properties; orientation distribution; Physics; strain hardening; Synchrotron radiation instrumentation; Synchrotrons; tensile strain; Tensile Strength; Wood; X- and γ-ray instruments and techniques; X-ray diffraction; X-Ray Diffraction - methods
• ISSN: 1600-5775; 0909-0495; 1600-5775
• DOI: 10.1107/S0909049505011714

Highly oriented native cellulose fibres (flax) and softwood (pine) have been investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction. Local structural information was obtained by using X‐ray microbeams. Tensile tests were performed in situ, revealing a change of orientation of cellulose microfibrils in materials with tensile strain. In flax fibres, the microfibrils rotate during the first percent of stretching, into a more parallel orientation with respect to the fibre axis. For wood, a decrease of orientation with the onset of strain hardening is found for the first time.