Stronger Transparent Wood

May-18-16 A new method of making wood transparent also makes it as much as six times stronger, and could have applications in creating more efficient solar cells.

The technology builds on a method created by Swedish researchers earlier in the year, in which the lignin molecule (which gives wood its color and stiffness) is removed from the material. Instead of filling the spaces with acrylic glass, however, the team from the University of Maryland used epoxy. This resulted in the wood becoming four to six times stronger, even with the lignin removed.

The team also believes that the transparent wood’s high haze combined with high transparency could help solar cells trap light, leading to more effective solar panels.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[UMERC.UMD.EDU]

---