Lignocellulose index

FIGURE 5.41 Range of LCI (lignocellulose index) values during the different stages of organic matter decomposition. (Data from DeBusk, 1996.)... 

FIGURE 5.42 Increasing trend of LCI (lignocellulose index) with time is observed in decomposition of organic matter (Melillo et al., 1989). 

It is important to mention that the chemical composition of each type of fibers and the orientation of microfibrils about the fiber axis, called microfibrillar angle (Table 8.1), may significantly differ. Similarly, depending on the cellulose and lignin contents, crystallinity index of each type of fiber differs. In view of these, when lignocellulosic fibers are tested for their tensile properties, their fracture mode differs, which may be intercellular or intracellular or mixed modes of fracture. Accordingly, the tensile properties and fractographs are different for each type of fiber. These are also listed for some fibers in Table 8.1 and Fig. 8.3, respectively. 

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