TITLE:
The Relationship of Microstructure, Density and Bending Strength Properties of Blighia sapida
AUTHORS:
Gladys A. Quartey
KEYWORDS:
Microstructure, Blighia sapida, Scanning Electron Microscope, Fibre Length, Axial Parenchyma, Density, Bending Strength, Absorption
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.10 No.5,
May
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: Wood anatomical
structures of various tree species help identify the wood. The characteristics
and composition of these structures affect their utilisation. In this work, the microstructure of Blighia
sapida a lesser-known Ghanaian hardwood species using light microscope and
scanning electron microscope (SEM) was studied. The relationship between the
microstructure and some physical properties such as density, and bending
strength were also studied. The anatomical features studied were fibre length,
double fibre wall thickness, fibre proportion, vessel diameter and proportion,
rays and axial parenchyma proportions. It was observed that the use of SEM in
studying the anatomical or ultra-structural aspects of wood gives a clearer
understanding of the features and structures found in wood. Anatomical features
such as presence of crystals and absence of axial parenchyma in Blighia sapida are reported in the work. The study also established that Blighia sapida had a low water uptake
even though it had vessel distribution of 12 vessels/mm2. Having not
very distinct axial parenchyma may have accounted for the low water uptake. The
presence of occluded pits could also account for the low water uptake and the
fibre wall thickness may also account for a medium bending strength of 62.8
N/mm2 at 12% moisture content.