An Optical Model for Polarization Microscopy Analysis of Pulp Fibre-to-Fibre Bonds

Pulp fibre-to-fibre bonds were studied using polarization microscopy and microtome cuts. The experiments showed considerable discrepancies between these two experimental methods. While microtome cuts clearly show if a bond between two fibres has formed, polarization microscopy cannot unambiguously discern between crossed unbonded fibres and bonded fibres; also certain bonds cannot be detected with this method. To examine these shortcomings, a physical model of polarization microscopy of bonded and unbonded pulp fibers was built. Experimental validation of the model gave good agreement between calculations and reflectance measurements. Calculations based on this model clearly demonstrate that only bonded fibres resembling a plane parallel plate show as bonds. However, crossings of unbonded fibers also appear as bonds if the two fibres are flat and plane parallel to each other. The model provides a consistent interpretation for polarization microscopy imaging of pulp fibre bonds, an important topic in research of mechanical and optical properties of fibrous composites like paper.