Microwave Method for Measurement of Fiber Orientation in Paper

A microwave method for the measurement of fiber orientation in paper, is described. The method uses a dual mode microwave cavity where the modes have equal resonant frequencies and mutually perpendicular electric fields. The paper is inserted through the cavity so that the electric fields of both modes are in the plane of the paper. If the orientation of the fibers in the paper is not random the resonant frequencies will differ due to the dielectric anisotropy of the paper. This difference is measured and can be calibrated to give the amount of fiber orientation. Moisture and thickness variations in paper can cause calibration errors. However, if the variations are within certain limits, these errors can be eliminated by a suitable selection of the resonator bandwidths.