Superwood, this is the name of a new material created by an American company called InventWood. If it’s called superwood, it must be so special… It is! According to its creators, it’s 10 times stronger than steel and 6 times lighter.
The company was co-founded by scientist Lianbing Hu, a materials expert, and it has just launched the superwood to the market. This is an advance that could change the way we build houses and buildings. So, let’s find out more about this incredible material.
A change in the history of construction
Since ancient times, human beings have used stones and wood to build shelters. With the passage of time, new materials like steel, cement, and glass have been used in most modern constructions. However, this innovation proves that such an old material, like wood, can still be revolutionary. And the superwood represents this.
Hu and his team have redesigned the inner structure of wood to make it more resistant without losing its lightness or its natural origin.
The secret of the superwood
The key behind the superwood’s success is the plants’ fibers that form the wood. Professor Liangbing Hu discovered how to strengthen the cellulose, which is the main element of plants’ fibers and, according to him, “the most abundant biopolymer on the planet.”
To make this superwood possible, Hu removed a substance called lignin, which is the one that provides color and part of its strength. Then he focused on strengthening the cellulose, making the structure much denser and tougher. This process changed the appearance of the wood and transformed its resistance.
How the superwood is made
The process of making the superwood is very interesting. So, let’s see step by step how this new wood is made:
- The wood is boiled in water and special chemicals to remove unwanted parts, like lignin.
- It is then hot-pressed under extreme pressure, which makes the wood’s internal cells collapse and become compact.
- This compression increases its density, strength, and durability, while keeping it lightweight.
The entire process lasts about a week, and the final result is a wood with more resistance and lightness than many metals. After 3 years of its discovery, Hu got to improve the method and transform the superwood into a material ready to be sold.
Advantages in construction
Buildings and structures made with superwood could be up to 4 times lighter than current ones, which would be a great advantage for engineering and safety. Constructions would be more resistant to earthquakes, easier to move, and faster to build. What’s more, since the superwood is still a natural material, it could help create more sustainable buildings.
So, thanks to its strength and lightness, this material can revolutionize the way in which buildings are designed and built in the entire world.
The future of the superwood
This new material shows that even such an old material like wood can become something completely new thanks to science. Let’s remember it’s 10 times stronger than steel, 6 times lighter, and completely natural. It’s incredible what InventWood and professor Liangbing Hu have achieved, they have joined technology and nature to create a material that can transform the way in which we live and build.
In the near future, the superwood could replace many traditional materials and open a new era in the history of modern construction. Therefore, with this innovation, wood is once again the protagonist but now with a never seen strength.
It’s great to see how companies and experts are working together to use technological advances to improve many human activities to lower environmental damages. Isn’t this such good news?