U.S. Scientists Create a “Superwood” That’s Stronger, Lighter, and Surprisingly Green

When scientists at the University of Maryland modified a piece of timber using a simple process, the results didn’t just outperform conventional wood. They began to rival the properties of steel and aluminum, with added environmental benefits that could dramatically shift how the world builds.

What emerged is now called superwood, a material created by altering natural wood’s internal structure to boost its strength, reduce weight, and improve resilience. The process, developed and tested in peer-reviewed studies, has produced a wood-based material strong enough for structural use and light enough for transportation and aerospace design.

Unlike previous wood composites or carbon-intensive construction materials, this technology relies on abundant, fast-growing species. The manufacturing method is low-energy and scalable, making it a potential breakthrough in the search for sustainable building materials.

Stronger Wood Through Cellular Transformation

The core process involves two steps: chemical softening followed by compression. Raw timber is boiled in a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite, which partially removes lignin and hemicellulose, the natural components that limit flexibility and strength. Afterward, the wood is hot-pressed, compressing its cellular structure into a dense, aligned form.

This method, documented in a 2018 study in Nature, creates a material that is significantly stronger than untreated wood. Compressive strength reached over 160 MPa, and flexural strength exceeded 330 MPa, depending on species and direction of applied force.

Densified samples of oak, poplar, pine, and cedar showed tensile strength increases of up to five times. For instance, oak jumped from 115 MPa in its natural form to 584 MPa after processing. The work of fracture, a key measure of toughness, also improved across all samples.

The transformation realigns the internal cellulose nanofibers, enabling dense hydrogen bonding. This alignment boosts the material’s resistance to deformation and makes it behave more like a synthetic composite than a natural fiber. According to the Nature study, even under high strain, the densified structure maintains its integrity and dissipates energy efficiently.

Engineered for Stress, Heat, and Moisture

Beyond strength, superwood offers key advantages in real-world environments. Tests from the USDA Forest Service showed that the material remains dimensionally stable under high humidity, a long-standing weakness of conventional timber products.

In controlled experiments, samples exposed to 95 percent relative humidity for over 120 hours expanded far less than untreated or pressed wood. Even after sustained exposure, superwood retained most of its original mechanical performance.

Thermal behavior is also improved. The product developed by InventWood, the startup commercializing the technology, carries a Class A fire rating according to data on its official site. That rating places it in the highest category for flame resistance under standard building codes.

Because the process is effective across different wood types, manufacturers can source from local forests or use fast-growing species without compromising performance. This gives superwood flexibility in supply chains that metals and synthetic composites often lack.

Electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering confirmed the dense, layered microstructure. The absence of voids and uniform fiber alignment reduce weaknesses that normally allow moisture to penetrate or heat to deform the material.

Scalable, Low-Carbon, and Commercially Viable

The path from lab to industry is already taking shape. InventWood, founded by the University of Maryland’s Liangbing Hu, has begun small-scale manufacturing and is collaborating with partners in construction, transportation, and defense sectors.

Production does not require the high-temperature furnaces used in steelmaking. The entire process operates at relatively low heat, significantly reducing energy demands. The research team estimated up to a 90 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to steel production based on lifecycle analysis included in the Nature paper.

Superwood’s reliance on renewable biomass rather than mined ores adds resilience to geopolitical risks and commodity price spikes. In regions with established timber industries, it could offer a domestic source of high-performance building material without the logistical complexity of importing steel or synthetic composites.

Potential applications include lightweight cladding, vehicle paneling, prefabricated building modules, and protective structures. Its low weight and high toughness make it ideal for projects where structural performance must be balanced with mobility or carbon constraints.