Anatomical properties of straw of various annual plants used for the production of wood panels

The aim of this study was to determine basic anatomical features of annual plant fibers used as wood substitutes for the production of wood-based panels. For this purpose rye, wheat, triticale, rape and corn straw were used. The determination of the morphological features of the fibers was conducted on the macerated material. Fiber lengths, fiber diameters and lumens were measured, and then the fiber wall thicknesses and slenderness ratios were calculated. The result clearly showed significant differences among all fiber characteristics of the tested plants. The strength and direction of the relationship between the anatomical properties determined in the study and the physicomechanical properties of the boards produced with straw from the tested annual plants were identified.

NSSC pulping of Miscanthus giganteus and birch wood Part 2: A comparison of papermaking potential and strength properties

In this paper we compare the anatomical features (number of fibrous elements in the pulp unit, fiber length, diameter of fibers and lumens, coefficients of slenderness, flexibility and the Runkel coefficient) of both Miscanthus giganteus and birch wood. The raw materials were tested prior to pulping, after pulping and after refining. Comparisons of defibering ability and selected strength properties (CMT, SCT, tear resistance, burst) allowed evaluating the papermaking potential of neutral sulfite pulps obtained from the above-mentioned raw materials.