%0 journal article
%@ 0024-9297
%A Diddens, I.,Murphy, B.,Krisch, M.,Mueller, M.

%D 2008
%J Macromolecules
%N 24
%P 9755-9759 
%R doi:10.1021/ma801796u
%T Anisotropic Elastic Properties of Cellulose Measured Using Inelastic X-ray Scattering
%U https://doi.org/10.1021/ma801796u
24 
%X Plant fibers such as linen are remarkably stiff materials in the longitudinal direction of the fiber. As plant cell walls are composites made of cellulose nanocrystals, the so-called microfibrils, embedded in a disordered matrix, those nanocrystals should exhibit an even higher elastic modulus G. We have determined the elastic properties of cellulose microfibrils via the sound velocities measured by inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS). The IXS technique is particularly sensitive to crystal properties by discriminating the contribution of disordered material. A strong anisotropy is observed, with a much lower elastic modulus perpendicular to the fiber direction (G1 = 15 GPa) than parallel to it (G2 = 220 GPa). The latter modulus is considerably higher than all values previously determined and will have a significant impact on models for the elastic properties of cellulose microfibrils and of composites based on them.