ELIGE MADERA Transparent Wood: Fiber for the Future Have you ever thought about the endless possibilities of wood? If we all knew a little more about this material and did some in-depth research, we’d surely be amazed at all the possibilities. The architecture and construction industries would probably produce less environmental pollution, as well. Today, we’ll show you another highlight of the versatility of wood: its ability to be transparent and replace glass. How? Let us tell you about it. Have you ever thought about the endless possibilities of wood? If we all knew a little more about this material and did some in-depth research, we’d surely be amazed at all the possibilities. The architecture and construction industries would probably produce less environmental pollution, as well. Today, we’ll show you another highlight of the versatility of wood: its ability to be transparent and replace glass. How? Let us tell you about it. With a method of "solar-assisted chemical brushing" that modifies the lignin (instead of eliminating it), scientists at the University of Maryland have managed to create transparent wood. Although it might seem impossible, it’s real - and it brings wood closer and closer to replacing glass and plastic windows. Since wood is more efficient than glass in terms of production and thermal insulation, this is a milestone for sustainable construction. However, one of the main difficulties in manufacturing transparent wood is "delignification." This process removes wood tissue to reduce light absorption, thereby generating large amounts of harmful substances and energy that could weaken the wood's composition. How does the process work? First, hydrogen peroxide must be applied. Afterwards, the wood is exposed to ultraviolet light, modifying the chromophores (basically the set of atoms of a molecule that give the wood its color) so that they begin absorbing light. It’s then possible to observe a change in the color of the wood, from brown to white. Finally, epoxy resin is applied to fill the wood’s pores and reduce light scattering, resulting in wood with optical transparency. Interesting architectural applications are sure to come with this new form of timber along with new and sustainable methods of operation in the construction industry.