Superwood: Stronger Than Steel, Made From Wood

InventWood to Mass Produce Superwood, a Sustainable Building Material Stronger Than Steel

A groundbreaking innovation in material science is poised to revolutionize the construction industry. InventWood, a Maryland-based startup, is preparing to mass-produce Superwood, a revolutionary wood product stronger than steel.

Developed by University of Maryland materials scientist Liangbing Hu, Superwood starts as ordinary timber. Through a patented process, the wood is treated with food-grade chemicals and compressed, increasing the hydrogen bonds between cellulose molecules. This process results in a material with 50% more tensile strength than steel and a ten-times better strength-to-weight ratio.

We might densify the material by 4x, and you might think it'll be four times stronger. But it’s actually more like 10-times stronger because of all these extra bonds that get created.

InventWood CEO Alex Lau explains that Hu, after the initial discovery, spent years refining the technology, reducing production time from over a week to just a few hours.

Superwood is also Class A fire-rated, resistant to rot and pests, and can be stabilized for outdoor use with polymer impregnation. The compression process also intensifies the wood's natural colors, creating a rich, aesthetically pleasing finish.

InventWood Secures Funding and Begins Production

InventWood has secured $15 million in Series A funding, led by the Grantham Foundation, with participation from Baruch Future Ventures, Builders VC, and Muus Climate Partners. This funding will support the launch of their first commercial plant this summer, initially focusing on facade materials for commercial and high-end residential buildings.

The company's long-term vision is to use wood chips to create structural beams of any dimension that require no finishing. Lau envisions Superwood replacing concrete and steel I-beams, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.

The first batches of Superwood are expected this summer. This innovative material promises to be a game-changer in sustainable construction, offering a stronger, lighter, and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional building materials.