Water interaction in paper cellulose fibres as investigated by NMR pulsed field gradient

► Water diffusion was measured in sheets made from different cellulose based fibres. ► Two water phases were found with different interaction with the cellulose. ► The two phases of water were equal in size for most moisture contents. ► Fibre size and composition did not affect the measured diffusion coefficients. ► Diffusion was faster in plane than out of plane.