Studies on the nano-deformation of wood cell walls

Hamburg

2007

S. 111-118

5 Abb., 41 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

200151617

The macroscopic properties of trees emerge from their micro- and nanostructure due to the hierarchical organisation of the organism. In wood cell walls, stiff and parallel-oriented semicrystalline cellulose microfibrils are embedded in a compliable amorphous matrix which can be characterised on the lines of a fi fibre-reinforced composite. The article presents micromechanical approaches which can be utilized to examine the deformation behaviour of wood at the molecular level, in particular in situ tests which combine mechanical loading with Raman microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. By a deeper understanding of the interactions between the stiff cellulose fibrils and the compliant matrix polymers in secondary cell walls we are able to gain better insights into optimization strategies of living trees as well as into the material design as such.