Researchers in the United States have developed a new material that could reshape construction, transportation, and even aerospace design. Scientists at the University of Maryland have engineered what they call “superwood,” a modified form of natural timber that rivals steel and aluminum in strength while remaining far lighter and significantly more sustainable, as reported by the Daily Galaxy.
The breakthrough does not rely on exotic ingredients or energy intensive manufacturing. Instead, it uses a relatively simple two step process to fundamentally transform wood’s internal structure. Ordinary timber is first chemically softened using sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite, which partially remove lignin and hemicellulose. These components normally limit flexibility and strength. The treated wood is then hot pressed, collapsing and aligning its cellular structure into a dense, layered form.
The result is a material with mechanical properties that go far beyond conventional wood. In a peer reviewed study published in Nature, the researchers showed compressive strengths exceeding 160 megapascals and flexural strengths above 330 megapascals. In some cases, tensile strength increased by as much as five times. Oak, for example, jumped from about 115 megapascals in its natural state to roughly 584 megapascals after processing.
This dramatic improvement comes from the realignment of cellulose nanofibers inside the wood. Compression forces the fibers into close contact, allowing dense hydrogen bonding that gives the material exceptional strength and toughness. Tests showed that superwood maintains structural integrity even under high strain, behaving more like an engineered composite than a natural material.
Strength alone is not what makes superwood compelling. Traditional timber struggles with moisture, heat, and long term dimensional stability. Superwood performs far better on all three fronts. Tests conducted with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the material expanded far less than untreated or conventionally pressed wood when exposed to high humidity. Even after more than 120 hours at 95 percent relative humidity, it retained most of its mechanical performance.
Fire resistance has also improved. According to data from InventWood, the company commercializing the technology, their superwood product carries a Class A fire rating, the highest category under standard building codes. That places it in the same tier as materials traditionally considered far less flammable than wood.
One of the biggest advantages is scalability. The process works across multiple wood species, including fast growing and widely available types like pine, poplar, and cedar. That flexibility allows manufacturers to use local or renewable sources rather than relying on mined metals or carbon heavy composites.
From a climate perspective, the implications are significant. Steel production requires extremely high temperatures and is responsible for a substantial share of global carbon emissions. The superwood process operates at much lower heat, and lifecycle analyses from the research team suggest carbon emissions could be reduced by up to 90 percent compared with steel.
The technology is now moving beyond the lab. InventWood was founded by Liangbing Hu, one of the lead researchers behind the work, and has begun early manufacturing while working with partners in construction, transportation, and defense. Potential applications include lightweight building panels, vehicle components, prefabricated modules, and protective structures where strength, weight, and sustainability all matter.
Superwood will not replace steel everywhere. Metals still excel in extreme temperature environments and certain high precision applications. But for a wide range of uses, this densified wood offers a compelling alternative that combines performance with renewability. If scaled successfully, it could reduce reliance on some of the most carbon intensive materials in modern industry and change how future structures are designed and built.
