Date:January 3, 2024
Country: Sweden
Wood
Stems/Stalks
Biomaterials
smartphone screens, insulated windows
Application
Description The materials scientist, who works at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, specializes in polymer composites and was interested in creating a more robust alternative to transparent plastic from wood and after years of experiments, the research of these groups is starting to bear fruit. Transparent wood could soon find uses in super-strong screens for smartphones; in soft, glowing light fixtures; and even as structural features, such as color-changing windows.
Pathway Description: The process of creating transparent wood involves a two-step treatment. First, the lignin is removed through a bleaching process. This leaves behind a milky-white skeleton of hollow cells. Next, the air pockets within these cells are filled with a transparent substance, such as epoxy resin, that has a similar refractive index to the cell walls. This allows the light to bend uniformly through the wood, rendering it transparent
Source: Know More...
Tags: Glass Like WoodTransparent Wood TechnologySee Through Wood Materials
Biomaterials
smartphone screens, insulated windows
Types of Feedstock
Forest residues
Name
Woody residue
Form
Solid biomass
Logistics
Requires sustainable sourcing practices to ensure environmental and economic viability,Transported as planks for processing
Characteristics
Strong
Chemical
Bleaching
Educational Institution
KTH Royal Institute of Technology,University of Maryland