In order to establish a link between the properties of the fibre surface and the paper performance under stress, the properties of single fibres and the properties of the joints between fibres were linked to the acoustic emission behaviour of paper of surface treated regenerated cellulose fibres under stress. Results show that the strength of the single fibre joint was influenced by the surfaces properties of the fibres and the interactions in the contact zone during joint formation, which in turn were dependent on both chemical and mechanical properties of the fibres surface. As the paper properties in this case were independent of the mechanical properties of the fibres, there was a strong link between the properties of the fibre-surface and joint properties and the behaviour of the paper under stress.