Conclusions
This study demonstrates that dynamic FT-IR spectroscopy
is a useful tool for studying polymer dynamics in
the wood ®ber wall. It has also been shown that the cellulose
and the hemicelluloses can be spectrally separated, which is
necessary for the interpretation of dynamic spectra.
The measurements parallel to ®ber direction have
revealed a difference in mechanical behavior between the
two main hemicelluloses in spruce wood, where the glucomannan
has a closer association to cellulose than the xylan.
This indicates different purposes for the two hemicelluloses
in the wood ®ber