Combined X-ray microbeam small-angle scattering and fibre diffraction experiments on single native cellulose fibres

The morphology of single native cellulose (flax) fibres was investigated by means of simultaneous small-angle scattering and fibre diffraction using an X-ray microbeam. The azimuthal broadenings both of the equatorial small-angle scattering streak and of Bragg reflections are found to be due to a misalignment of the crystalline cellulose microfibrils with respect to the fibre axis. Diffuse scattering on the layer lines and the equator of the fibre diffraction diagram indicates the presence of disordered cellulose between the cellulose microfibrils and of defects inside the crystallites.