Wood is one of the oldest building materials that mankind has been using for thousands of years. However, the scientific world is now completely redefining it. 'Super Wood', developed in America, stands out for being 10 times stronger and 6 times lighter than steel. It is the product of over 10 years of research and development.
So how was this material produced?
Hu embarked on years-long research aiming to transform wood at the molecular level. He partially removed a substance called lignin to strengthen cellulose, the main component of wood, and then compressed the cell structure with high heat and chemical processes.
With this process, the porous structure of the wood disappeared, its density increased, and it reached a durability level higher than steel. The resulting material demonstrated superior performance in weight-to-strength ratio compared to many metals. Liangbing Hu's work was first announced in the scientific world in 2017 and has now been transformed into a commercial product.
Moreover, it received the highest resistance score in fire tests. Although this new material is currently more expensive than traditional wood, it is stated that the cost will decrease as the production process becomes widespread. Most importantly, it reduces carbon emissions by 90% compared to steel production.
One of the most striking aspects of the material is that it makes structures four times lighter. Thus, buildings that are more resistant to earthquakes and less stressful on the foundation can be constructed. In addition, the same efficiency was achieved in tests conducted on 19 different types of trees and bamboo.
Although Super Wood is still in its early stages, engineers believe it could usher in a whole new era in architecture.