Towards 3D analysis of pulp fibre networks at the fibre and bond levels

Abstract By using X-ray synchrotron microtomography imaging, this work aims at proposing a method to get 3D information on paper fibrous microstructures. Such technique is useful to better understand the links between the manufacturing conditions, the resulting microstructural and mechanical properties of the paper fibrous networks, together with the morphology of fibres and fibre-fibre bonds. Its usefulness is illustrated for the 3D analysis of model papers being produced by changing the wet pressing conditions. It is demonstrated that the image analysis allows the changes of parameters describing, for example, the fibre cross section shape and inclination, the bond area surfaces, the distance between bonds to be followed with respect to the processing conditions for a large set of fibres and bonds. The distributions of properties that can be drawn from this experimental analysis will allow mechanical or physical discrete modelling approaches for papers to be enriched.