Variations in transverse fibre wall properties: Relations between elastic properties and structure

The transverse mechanical properties of the wood fibre play important roles in the use of wood and its fibres in various applications. However, the va riation in properties of fibres from different parts of the tree and the re lation of these properties to the structure of the fibre is not yet establi shed. This study focuses on the variation in the transverse elastic modulus of the fibre wall and its relation to the fibril structure of the S-2- and S-1-layer. For this reason the local fibril angle of radial and tangential fibre walls were measured by polarisation confocal microscopy. It was show n that the variation in fibril angle of the S-2-layer seems to have very li ttle influence on the transverse modulus of the fibres. Instead the thickne ss and fibril angle of the S-1- and thus also the S-3-layer should contribu te to the variation in transverse modulus between earlywood and transition wood fibres. The importance of the ray cells for the transverse elastic pro perties of the wood was also emphasised.