A model of the external surface of wood pulp fibers

Published discussions of zeta potential, colloidal retention and polymer adsorption consider fiber surfaces to be atomically smooth, electrically charged planes. Proposed is a more realistic model of the external fiber surface that accounts for roughness and the presence of a surface layer of water soluble polymer. Comparisons of fiber properties with those of other hydrophilic solids show that in terms of many properties wood fibers are most closely related to water swollen polymer gels. The implications of the fiber model on polymer sorption and colloidal retention are discussed.