44—the Surface Topology of Ramie Fibre: Observations by Scanning Electron Microscopy

An investigation is described in which the surface structure of ramie fibre at various stages of degumming was examined by scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that, as the fibre was degummed, the overlying patches on the surface became smaller in area, and fine, distinct detail, consisting of longitudinal fibrillar elements, was progressively revealed on the fibre surfaces. From the polarizing microscopy of transverse sections, it was observed that the peripheral S1 layer of the secondary wall remained intact in the degummed sample. In the peeled fibre, the fibrils became well separated when the gum content was down to 1–2%. In the transverse sections of some of the fibres, containing 12–22% gum, the lumen was found to be closed, and only when the gum content was reduced to 6% could the lumen be seen clearly in the cross-sections. A brittle type of fracture generally existed in all the fibres, irrespective of the gum content.