Analysis of Tropical Woods Crystallinity by X-ray Diffraction

• Grant number: 25/24182-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2026
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Antonio Rocco Lahr
• Grantee: Clara Gaspar Fossi de Souza
• Supervisor: Fernando Joaquim Fernandes Tavares Rocha
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/01589-2 - ESTIMATION OF STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS TROPICAL WOODS AS FUNCTION OF PHYSICAL AND ANATOMICAL PARAMETERS, BP.DR

Abstract

The project aims to analyze the crystallinity of tropical woods using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and to evaluate its influence on the mechanical properties of the material. Cellulose crystallinity is a key factor for the strength and stiffness of wood, being determined by the structural organization of its crystalline regions. The study will use samples from different wood species and apply regression models to correlate crystallinity with physical and mechanical properties, also considering apparent density and parameters related to wood anatomical structure. The analyses will be carried out at the University of Aveiro (UA), Portugal, where X-ray diffractograms will be collected to identify crystallographic patterns and determine crystallinity indices. The XRD technique will enable quantification of the crystalline fraction of cellulose present in the wood samples. The expected results include a better understanding of the relationship between cellulose structure and the mechanical performance of wood, contributing to the development of more accurate predictive models. In addition, the study may provide valuable insights for the valorization of lesser-known tropical woods, promoting their sustainable use and expanding their applications in engineering materials, civil construction, and high-performance product design.