Pore characterization in cross section of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) wood

This study was conducted to analyze the pore structure of Yellow poplar. Cross-sectional surfaces of heartwood and sapwood of Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) were observed by SEM, and the true density of the heartwood, intermediate wood and sapwood were measured by gas pycnometery, while gas permeability and pore size of heartwood, intermediate wood and sapwood were measured by capillary flow porometery. The pores were classified as through pore, blind pore and closed pore. It was determined that the permeability was increased due to the content and size of through pore being increased although the total porosity of specimen showed slight difference from pith to bark. The content of through pore porosity was 33.754 % of heartwood and 47.810 % of sapwood, showed an increasing trend from pith to bark, however, those for the blind pore porosity and closed pore porosity were 27.890 % and 19.492 % for heartwood and 19.447 % and 4.660 % for sapwood, showed a decreasing trend from pith to bark. The max pore size of specimens was increased by about 5 times from 5.927 μm to 31.334 μm, and mean flow pore size was increased by about 315 times from 0.397 μm to 12.437 μm from pith to bark.