Known as Superwood, this modified timber could transform architecture by combining extraordinary strength with all the advantages of a natural, renewable resource. What seemed destined to remain a laboratory experiment is now on the verge of becoming a viable new building material.
Development began in 2013 in the laboratory of Professor Liangbing Hu at the University of Maryland’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the United States. More than a decade of research later, the technology has moved into the hands of InventWood, the company now tasked with bringing it to commercial production.
The breakthrough lies in altering the internal structure of ordinary wood. A special treatment reorganises the cellulose fibres and increases the wood’s density, creating a material that is much stronger, lighter and more durable than traditional timber.
According to its developers, its strength-to-weight ratio is up to ten times that of steel, while weighing around six times less. It could also significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with conventional structural materials.
Its first applications will focus on cladding and architectural features, but the ambition is for Superwood to become a sustainable alternative for a wide range of uses in future construction.
