<Original>Characterization of Explosion Wood : 1. Structure and Physical Properties

Abstract

Wood chips of Shirakaba (Betula platiphilla Skatchev var, Japonica Hara) and Karamatsu (Larix leptolepis Gordon) were treated with a high pressure steam (12-28 kg/cm^2) for 1-16 min., and the steam pressure was released instantaneously to result in explosion wood. When the treating time was longer more fibrillation of cell walls of Shirakaba occurred. However, Karamatsu chips gave small non-fibrillated block fragments. Fibers of the explosion wood of both woods were observed to be vigorously ruptured. Glycosidic linkage of hemicelluloses and alkyl-aryl linkages of lignin were hydrolyzed to give low molecular weight fragments. Cellulose, on the other hand, remained apparently intact. The crystallinity and micelle width were found to be increased by explosion.