Summary
A US company, InventWood, has created Superwood, a modified wood claimed to be stronger than steel and "bulletproof." The wood is treated to remove imperfections and compressed to make it stronger, potentially useful for construction and military applications. Superwood is part of a trend toward using engineered wood as a sustainable construction material that can store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Facts
- InventWood is a US-based company creating strong, modified wood called Superwood.
- Superwood is claimed to be stronger than steel, based on lab tests where it resisted a projectile.
- The wood is chemically treated to remove lignin and compressed to enhance strength.
- InventWood is initially using poplar and plans to use bamboo for making Superwood.
- Engineered wood like Superwood may help reduce the construction sector's carbon footprint.
- Superwood can serve as a robust and aesthetically pleasing exterior cladding.
- The production process for Superwood has been refined to take just a few hours.
- InventWood claims this wood can contribute positively to climate change efforts by storing carbon.
