High Resolution Micro CT Imaging and 3D Image Analysis of Paper Products

Characterization of the internal microstructure of paper, consisting of a dense network of wood fibres, is an important tool for determining the properties of paper and for optimizing the papermaking process. A novel two step approach for segmentation of wood fibres in high resolution micro CT images of paper has been developed that is able to isolate the individual wood fibres even with cracks and openings in their fibre walls, and is thus a first step in quantifying the fibrous microstructure of paper. The approach uses an extended 2D connected components method to track the lumen or hollow within the fibre in a fully automated manner, followed by labeling of the fibre walls using a distance transform. The result is a robust 3D fibre segmentation that preserves the surface topology of the papermaking fibres.