Superwood: Transforming Wood Scraps into Steel’s Stronger, Lighter Rival

Quick Smiles:

• Wood scraps transformed into a material stronger than steel
• Superwood is fire-resistant and lightweight
• Potential applications range from construction to consumer goods

Imagine taking discarded wood scraps and turning them into something that could potentially replace steel or carbon fiber. This is the magic of “Superwood,” a revolutionary material that is both lightweight and incredibly strong.

In 2018, a groundbreaking discovery was made by a materials engineer who found a way to treat these wood scraps with heat and chemicals. This treatment alters their molecular structure, allowing the wood to be compressed to a quarter of its original thickness while increasing its strength.

Chief Executive Alex Lau of InventWood, the company behind Superwood, envisions numerous applications for this material. “It could replace steel I-beams in houses or even the exterior of a laptop computer,” he suggests.

The versatility of Superwood is remarkable. During a fire, it doesn’t sag like steel; instead, it forms a protective carbonized layer on the outside, safeguarding the inner layers from heat.

Holding Superwood feels like handling an “otherworldly object” due to its unique combination of lightness and strength.

Although similar to cross-laminated timber (CLT), which has been used in constructing tall wooden buildings, Superwood stands out for its light weight, flexibility, and fire resistance.

InventWood is now bringing Superwood to the market, starting with home sidings. “Its initial offerings will be home sidings, which require minimal certifications,” the company notes, but they hope to expand its uses in the near future.

The potential of Superwood is vast, and it’s exciting to think about the possibilities it could bring to industries ranging from construction to consumer electronics.

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