The mechanical properties of wood fibre materials are highly dependent on the environment, i.e. the moisture content and temperature as well as the testing conditions, time and frequency. Thus, characterization of wood fibre materials, as well as other polymeric materials used in combination with the fibres, depends on these environmental conditions and requires a number of different analyses.

We are able to offer a large portfolio of such tests. Measurements of moisture sorption characteristics may be done under dynamic conditions. Rheologiocal, i.e. time dependent mechanical properties may be measured from the size of single fibres, on fragments deposited of support, on small paper sheets or films to larger wood sticks or beams. Structural characterization may be viewed with AFM.

Also variations in molecular responses to load may be followed by FTIR. Traditional measurements of glass transition by DSC and characterisation by TGA are available as well as pores size distribution measurements using DSC. Chemical characterization may be done by FTIR microscopy and NMR.

References

Reflections on the ultrastructure of softwood fibres
Salmén L, Fahlén J
Cellulose Chemistry and Technology vol. 40, no. 3-4, 2006, pp 181-185

Characterizing wood polymers in the primary cell wall of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) using dynamic FT-IR spectroscopy
Stevanic Srndovic J, Salmén L
Cellulose vol 15, no. 2, 2008, pp 285-295

Mechanical behaviour of wet wood in sequences of compression and combined compression and shear
de Magistris F, Salmén L
Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal vol. 21, no. 2, 2006, pp 231-236

Mechano-sorptive creep in wood fibres
Olsson A-M, Salmén L, Eder M, Burgert I
Wood Science and Technology vol. 41, 2007, pp 59-67

Finite element modelling of wood cell deformation transverse to the fibre axis
de Magistris F, Salmén L
Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal vol. 23, no. 2, 2008, pp 240-246