American researchers have developed a technique to reinforce wood by adding minerals on a very small scale, which could allowUse wood instead of steel and concrete in the construction industry.
Strengthen wood on a nanometric scale
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University tried to develop a method to strengthen wood, by injecting minerals on a nanometric scale. According to the results of their research, published recently in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, a particular treatment would prove to be very effective.
scientists concentrated for this study on red oak, a hardwood that is commonly found in North America, belonging to the category of wood with annular pores, in other words a wood with large vessels in the shape of rings used to transport and diffuse water into the tree.
Their goal was to strengthen the internal structure of this red oak, without however altering the overall mechanical properties which make all the advantages of woodthat is to say without making it heavier, less flexible and without it becoming harmful to the environment.
These finally reached the expected result by introducing in wood to the nanometric scale A mineral called Ferrihydrite. This mineral, obtained via a simple chemical reaction between ferric nitrate and potassium hydroxide, is an iron oxide that is frequently found in nature.
Why such an experience?
In order to verify the veracity of their study, the researchers used high precision tools to analyze the effects of ferrihydrite treatment on different scales. With microscopy by atomic force and a method called AM-FM, scientists have been able to observe the cell walls of the red oaks treated in order to measure the properties of the wood finally obtained, as its rigidity and elasticity.
With a scanning electron microscope, the researchers were also able to assess the wood response to localized forces before then Compare the results obtained with unsolved woods. This multi-scale approach thus made it possible to understand how this treatment, with a fairly simple appearance, modifies both the internal structure of wood and its overall resistance.
Thus, La method used proves that it is possible to strengthen natural materials such as wood without using very polluting chemical treatment. By strengthening this materials, it could ultimately partially replace steel or concretematerials whose production has A significant impact on the environment.
Sustainable construction is a major issue of our time, but wood is today considered to be One of the first sources of renewable materials And has been used by humans since time immemorial.
However, to find solutions to limit the impacts of its use on the deforestation and the Destruction of ecosystemsit would indeed be counterproductive to partially solve an environmental problem to worsen another.
Article reference:
Chemically reinforced wood to replace concrete: a step towards a more sustainable construction?, Geo (02/05/2025), Aurélie Clouet d’Orval
