In situ SEM micro-indentation of single wood pulp fibres in transverse direction.

Fibre deformations such as kinks and micro-compressions are significant parameters in determining the quality of industrial pulps. Undoubtedly, very little information has been obtained so far on fibre deformation because it is very tedious to handle the specimens. In this study, a novel in situ scanning electron microscope (SEM) micro-indentation technique was adopted for the first time to study the deformation of single industrial pulp fibres in the transverse direction. A one-to-one correspondence between load drops in load-displacement curve and cell wall deformation was obtained by using the SEM video sequence recorded during micro-indentation. The cell wall deformation occurred by 'elastic' sinking-in and lateral bulging of the microfibrils. Finally, the critical load (stress) required to initiate a crack in the cell wall was measured for different unbleached pulp fibres.