Liangbing Hu (L) and Teng Li are engineers at the University of Maryland, College Park, who have found a way to make wood more than 10 times stronger and tougher than before (R). Courtesy: University of Maryland.

A Maryland company, InventWood, is making headlines with its innovative new material, MettleWood. This wood, developed using advanced nano-technology, boasts the strength of steel while being environmentally sustainable.

InventWood, founded by Dr. Liangbing Hu, a professor at the University of Maryland, is moving its operations from the university to its own industrial space. His ground-breaking process transforms cellulose-based materials into MettleWood, a product as strong as steel.

MettleWood is a versatile, high-value structural material with numerous applications, including the automotive industry, building construction and premium furniture.

One of its most significant benefits is its potential to reduce green-house gas emissions by 37.2 gigatons over 30 years. By replacing traditional structural materials such as steel and cement, which have high carbon footprints, MettleWood offers a more sustainable alternative.

The creation of MettleWood involves several steps. First, lignin, which provides wood its strength, is dismantled to soften the wood. The fibres are then closed through evaporation.

This process prepares the wood for the next step, where it is re-swelled by shocking it with water. This water-shock method results in a unique, partially open, wrinkled cell wall structure.

This innovative process creates 3D-moulded wood, which is six times stronger than the original wood and comparable to lightweight materials like aluminium alloys.

The wrinkled cell wall structure is key, as it allows the wood to be folded and moulded into various shapes without breaking. This foldability and mouldability make MettleWood highly adaptable for different uses.

Teng Li, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Maryland and co-author of the study on this technique, highlights the broad applications of mouldable wood. It’s a sustainable structural material that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of buildings and transportation. “This development is particularly important in the context of global efforts to combat climate change and reduce reliance on non-renewable materials,” he notes.

MettleWood is not just strong but also incredibly lightweight. It is 50% stronger than steel and six times lighter. This 100% wood material offers higher performance and durability while significantly reducing climate-changing emissions.

With its ability to replace 80% of steel and concrete used today, it represents a major step forward in sustainable materials technology.

Overall, the development and commercialisation of MettleWood signals a promising future for sustainable building materials. As it begins to be utilised in various industries, its environmental benefits and superior performance are expected to make a substantial impact.

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