Microstructural cumulative material degradation and fatigue-failure micromechanisms in wood-pulp fibres

This paper establishes the fundamental micro-mechanisms associated with the conversion of single wood pulp fibres into fibres suitable for the production of paper, It deals with an examination of the morphological and structural changes taking place in pulp fibres being subjected to cyclic mechanical actions that are representative of those experienced by fibres in mechanical refiners. Implementing the experimental procedure previously described (Hamad, 1994), qualitative answers are provided to such questions as what material property changes are associated with the various identifiable micro-mechanisms and how is the extent of damage accumulation related to wood species, pulping type, refining energy, and the number of cycles? A collation of the underlying themes responsible for material degradation indicates that a recognition of the regions of high-localized deformation and the manner in which cracks grow as well as the general weakening of the material due to structural damage and mechanical degradation of the fibre cell wall material, provide an insight into the way in which single fibres are rendered suitable for papermaking by mechanical refining.