puukuidun

Puukuidun is a Finnish term meaning wood fiber in the genitive form, used to refer to the fibrous component extracted from wood. It denotes the cellulose-rich material that forms the scaffolding of plant cell walls and serves as a key raw material in various wood-based products.

Wood fiber is primarily cellulose, with smaller amounts of hemicelluloses and lignin. The fibrous material provides structural strength in trees and forms the basis for many wood-based products, including papers and composites. The quality and properties of puukuidun depend on fiber length, purity, and processing method.

It is produced by chemical pulping, such as kraft or sulfite processes, which remove lignin; or by mechanical pulping, which separates fibers while retaining much of the lignin. Dissolving pulps are specialized cellulose products used for textiles and other high-purity applications. Fibers can be bleached or unbleached, and may be further processed into sheets, nonwovens, or dispersed into suspensions for composites.

Common applications include papermaking and packaging papers, fiber-reinforced polymer composites, wood fiber cement and other cementitious materials, and various textile or nonwoven products. In many cases, puukuidun is used in blends with plastics or resins to form biocomposites or reinforcement materials, expanding the range of wood-derived products.

Environmental considerations include its renewability and potential for lower carbon footprints when sourced from sustainably managed forests. Processing consumes energy and chemicals, raising environmental concerns related to emissions and wastewater. Wood fiber can be recycled or repurposed, but moisture sensitivity and compatibility with matrices remain challenges in some applications. See also cellulose, lignocellulosic fibers, and wood pulp.