Microfibril angle of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] compression wood: comparison of measuring techniques

The structure of cellulose, especially the microfibril angles (MFAs), in co mpression wood of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] was studied by wi de- and small-angle X-ray scattering and polarizing microscopy. On the basi s of the X-ray scattering experiments the average MFAs of the cell wall lay ers S-2 and S-1 of the studied sample are 39 degrees and 89 degrees, respec tively; and the average diameter and length of the cellulose crystallites a re 2.9 and 20.0 nm, respectively. The average of the whole MFA distribution is shown to agree with the one obtained by polarizing microscopy of macera ted fibers.