Differences in surface chemistry of regenerated lignocellulose fibers determined by chemically sensitive scanning probe microscopy
Journal article, 2020

Tuning the composition of regenerated lignocellulosic fibers in the production process enables targeting of specific material properties. In composite materials, such properties could be manipulated by controlled heterogeneous distribution of chemical components of regenerated fibers. This attribute requires a visualization method to show their inherent chemical characteristics. We compared complementary microscopic techniques to analyze the surface chemistry of four differently tuned regenerated lignocellulosic fibers. Adhesion properties were visualized with chemical force microscopy and showed contrasts towards hydrophilic and hydrophobic atomic force microscopy tips. Fibers containing xylan showed heterogeneous adhesion properties within the fiber structure towards hydrophilic tips. Additionally, peak force infrared microscopy mapped spectroscopic contrasts with nanometer resolution and provided point infrared spectra, which were consistent to classical infrared microscopy data. With this setup, infrared signals with a spatial resolution below 20 nm reveal chemical gradients in specific fiber types.

Ioncell-F

Atomic force microscopy

Lignocellulose

Author

Claudia Gusenbauer

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences

Tiina Nypelö

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Devon S. Jakob

Lehigh University

Xiaoji G. Xu

Lehigh University

Dmitri V. Vezenov

Lehigh University

Shirin Asaadi

Aalto University

Herbert Sixta

Aalto University

Johannes Konnerth

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

0141-8130 (ISSN) 18790003 (eISSN)

Vol. 165 2520-2527

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology

Other Chemistry Topics

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Infrastructure

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

Areas of Advance

Materials Science

DOI

10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.145

More information

Latest update

3/29/2021