%0 Journal Article
%T INTER-FAMILY VARIATION IN FIBRE DIMENSIONS OF SIX TROPICAL HARDWOODS IN RELATION TO PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTION
%A Charles ANTWI-BOASIAKO
%A Anthony AYIMASU
%J Pro Ligno
%D 2012
%I Editura Universitatii Transilvania din Brasov
%X Fibre characteristics determine utilizationpotentials of timbers. Fibre dimensions influencewood pulpability, durability and physico-mechanicalproperties. Fibre length, width, lumen width and wallthickness of six tropical timbers from three families(Meliaceae, Sterculiaceae and Ulmaceae) wereinvestigated from heartwood splinters (20¡Á2¡Á2mm)delignified in 1:1 glacial acetic acid and hydrogenperoxide [at 600C], teased out and stained. Fibrelengths range from 0.79mm for Holoptelea grandis(Ulmaceae) to 1.88mm for Khaya ivorensis(Meliaceae) similar to the mean (2mm) for tropicalhardwoods and pulpable length (0.65-1.2mm). TheMeliaceae has moderately long fibres (1.61mm) butmedium-sized for Ulmaceae (1.19mm) andSterculiaceae (1.59mm). Cedrella odorata(Meliaceae) has wide fibres (36.5¦Ìm) and lumina(27.6¦Ìm), Celtis milbraedii (Ulmaceae) has narrowfibres (17.49¦Ìm) and lumen (8.97¦Ìm), all withinpulpable range (i.e., 9-40¦Ìm). Fibre wall thicknessranges from 3.31¦Ìm (for H. grandis) to 5.49¦Ìm (forPterygota macrocarpa, Sterculiaceae) and is withinpulpable range (2.90-5.15¦Ìm). Fibre walls forMeliaceae and Sterculiaceae are thick (>4¦Ìm) butmedium (2-4¦Ìm) for Ulmaceae. Runkel ratio of 2.65(for C. odorata) to 3.9 (for C. milbraedii) is greaterthan stipulated for pulping (1.25). However,Flexibility Coefficients (within 75-50 category) andfibre dimensions for timbers from the three familiesindicate their pulping suitability. It is anticipated thewood and construction industries exploit their fibrecharacteristics for structural applications andengineering of fibre-based products.
%K delignification
%K fibre wall thickness
%K flexibility coefficient
%K lumen width
%K maceration
%K pulping
%K Runkel ratio
%U http://www.proligno.ro/en/articles/2012/2/boasiako_full.pdf