| Abstract Scope |
Lignocellulosic materials, such as wood and wood-based composites, are poised to play a major role in meeting our needs for sustainable materials. However, lignocellulosic materials will never reach their full potential until their material properties are better understood across their multiscale structures, especially at the smaller length scales like individual cell wall layers. New approaches and tools are needed. We have recently employed materials science approaches and a wide array of advanced experimental characterization techniques, including X-ray fluorescence microscopy, X-ray computed tomography, small angle neutron scattering, and nanoindentation experiments, to study wood cell wall properties. The materials science approach includes identifying and studying structure-property- processing-performance relationships. Recent progress understanding mechanical, mass transport, and moisture-induced swelling properties of wood cell walls will be presented. |