Laser ultrasonics in copy paper: bending stiffness dependence on temperature and moisture content

The A0 Lamb mode in copy paper is generated and detected by using laser ultrasonics. The frequency dependence of the group velocity of the A0 mode is found from the wavelet transform of the measured signal. A best fit of the dispersion curve against predictions based on orthotropic plate theory yields an estimate of the bending stiffness of the sample. The sample is enclosed in an environmental chamber so that the effects of temperature and humidity can be controlled. Results indicate that the bending stiffness decreases with increasing temperature at an approximate rate of 4 x 10(-6) N m/degrees C, and that it decreases with increasing percent moisture content (PMC) at an approximate rate of 2 x 10(-5) (N m)/PMC.