X-ray micro computed tomography and image analysis provides a novel, non-destructive method to visualize and characterize the pore structure of complex materials such as paper and board. Comparison of Z-directional structural details of hand sheet and commercially made fine paper samples show a distinct difference in pore size distribution both in the in-plane and transverse direction. Commercial sheets show significant variation through the thickness direction potentially owing to the non-uniformity during formation. Method presented here may provide a useful tool to the papermaker to truly engineer the structure of paper and board tailored to specific end-use applications.
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