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Measuring compression wood severity in spruce

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Abstract

As the severity of compression wood influences the mechanical and chemical properties of wood it is desirable to be able to measure compression wood severity. However, so far no satisfactory method has been reported in the literature. Here we describe how scanning FTIR micro-spectroscopy can be employed to achieve CW severity measurements on increment cores of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L. Karst.) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière). Radial wood strips were converted into sawdust by a process that maintained their spatial orientation. Samples prepared in this way were scanned with an FTIR-microscope in reflective mode and from the spectra obtained a CW-indicator was calculated representing aromatic and carboxyl signals. This FTIR CW-indicator correlated well with alternative CW identification techniques (namely microfibril angle, transmitted light and immunolabelling of beta 1–4 galactan), which have been used to validate the method. Repeatability of the measurements was good and no systematic difference between spruce species was found. The achievable resolution of the measurements was of sub-mm order. The CW indicator described offers the opportunity to correlate CW severity with mechanical wood properties in spruce.

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Acknowledgments

We thank S. Mochan and B. Gardiner of the Northern Research Station, Forest Research for the provision of timber, L. Thomas, University of Glasgow for help with the X-ray diffractometer and IAESTE for arranging the visit of J. Wong. The work was financed by SHEFC, BBSRC and the University of Glasgow.

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Author notes

  1. Clemens M. Altaner

    Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  2. J. Paul McLean

    Present address: LMGC, University of Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    Clemens M. Altaner, Janet C. T. Wong, J. Paul McLean & Michael C. Jarvis

  2. Process Chemistry Centre, Laboratory of Wood and Paper Chemistry, Åbo Akademi, Turku/Åbo, Finland

    Elena N. Tokareva

  3. Centre for Timber Engineering, Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

    Adrian I. Hapca

Authors
  1. Clemens M. Altaner
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  2. Elena N. Tokareva
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  3. Janet C. T. Wong
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  4. Adrian I. Hapca
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  5. J. Paul McLean
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  6. Michael C. Jarvis
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Correspondence to Clemens M. Altaner.

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Altaner, C.M., Tokareva, E.N., Wong, J.C.T. et al. Measuring compression wood severity in spruce. Wood Sci Technol 43, 279–290 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-008-0226-1

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