Wood and Silk: Hierarchically Structured Biomaterials Investigated In Situ With X‐Ray and Neutron Scattering

Synchrotron radiation X‐ray and neutron scattering techniques are very useful tools for the non‐destructive analysis of the structure of biopolymer materials such as wood and silk, making the in situ investigation of structural changes upon mechanical stress possible. The low‐divergence synchrotron radiation X‐rays can be focused down to sub‐micrometer size, enabling scanning studies of the wood nanostructure with (sub‐)microscopic position resolution. This article highlights very recent advances in the understanding of silk and wood micro‐ and nanostructure, which were only possible using synchrotron radiation and neutrons. Examples include the local breakdown of cellulose fibre texture in wood cell walls, the deformation mechanism of a single wood cell, the viscoelastic properties of silk and insight into molecular mechanisms in silk upon mechanical deformation.