The widespread use of wood as a building material has been limited by its low tensile strength because it remains affordable and sustainable. The self-densification process discovered by Nanjing University researchers in China has revolutionized wood properties, which now enable it to compete directly with metals for construction needs and additional applications.
This innovative process depends on how wood fibers are structured. The structure of natural wood includes cellulose, which lignin reinforces, but the hollow area inside the fibers known as lumen makes the material less strong. Research scientists developed a new process that filled wood lumens to make the material much more durable.
The wood processing starts with boiling it in a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite until some lignin dissolves out. The heated mixture of lithium chloride and dimethylacetamide causes the expanded cellulose and lignin to occupy the hollow spaces within the wood structure. The wood undergoes air-drying at room temperature for a duration of ten hours. When drying occurs, the material contracts evenly, because of which it maintains its initial length and develops ultra-high tensile strength, impact toughness, and flexural strength.
The technique surpasses conventional wood densification practices because it uses fiber compression in one direction only. Hot-pressing is eliminated through this method, which results in both environmental and economic advantages.
The future development of self-densified wood shows promise to replace metals as a sustainable building material for construction, furniture, and automotive applications. The Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts published research by Dafang Huang and Jie Li, which represents a major advancement in wood-based material transformation.
Self-densified wood stands to become a vital component for sustainable construction because of rising market needs for stronger sustainable materials.
