Predicting scattering properties of fiber suspensions using Mie theory and probabilistic cross-sectional diameter of fibers

Abstract

AbstractScattering of visible light by micrometer-scale natural wood fibers is usually treated by assuming fibers to be perfect long cylindrical scatterers. In industrial processes, however, fibers experience deformations and are far from ideal cylinders. Variation in fiber morphology affects their scattering properties and it poses a challenge for reliable process measurements. In this paper, we have studied experimentally scattering of both deformed natural and ideal artificial non-absorbing fibers in aqueous suspension and their response to mass concentration of fibers. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of the Mie theory which is combined with cross-sectional diameter probability distribution of fibers. It is shown that the diameter distribution of the fibers together with Mie theory provides results that agree with experiments in case of both natural and ideal fibers.