Studies on structural characteristics of wood fibers for quality assessment of hardwood.

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This project aimed to develop fundamental studies on quality assessment of hardwood on the basis of anatomical and structural features of wood fibers. The wood fiber is a main element composing the grand tissue of the secondary xylem of hardwood. Therefore, properties and uses of hardwood considerably depend on the characteristics of fibers. Cross-sectional dimensions of fibers, fractional fiber wall area, fiber length and fibril angle of fiber wall were selected as anatomical and structural indices significant for quality assessment. New methods for measurement of them were examined and tried in several hardwood species. Variability of such indices were examined, and classifications based on them were discussed in the report.1) Measurement of cross-sectional cell dimensions was examined by means of the simple image analyzing systems( PIAS <I> and <II> ). The area, fractional area and Ferete's diameter of fiber cell-lumina were measured by the systems, and fiber wall thickness and diameter were calculated from measurements by the analyzers.2) Fractional wall area was calculated from the fractional cell-lumen. It is an important quality index closely related with wood density. A classification based on fractional wall area was proposed in this report.3) Estimation of fiber length in pulp was examined statistically. Fibril angles of fiber walls were measured on SEM micrographs. Variations of fibril angles and fiber length in timber were examined in several species. The measurements of them in adult wood can be used as quality indices.