The Relationship of Microstructure, Density and Bending Strength Properties of <i>Blighia sapida</i>

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.