Difference between revisions of "Superwood"
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Superwood is a strong building material we can make on Mars. | Superwood is a strong building material we can make on Mars. | ||
| − | Wood is made up of 40 to 50% of Cellulose fibers | + | Wood is made up of 40 to 50% of Cellulose fibers. In addition there is hemicellulose (20 to 30%) and lignen (15 to 30%) jointly holding it together, with 1 to 5% other stuff. |
By boiling the wood in a solution of [[Sodium Hydroxide]] (NaOH) and [[Sodium Sulphite]] (Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>3</sub>) most of the hemicellulose and Lignen is removed leaving the Cellulose fibers. The cellulose is then compressed and heated. The Cellulose fibres collapse, and chemically bind together. | By boiling the wood in a solution of [[Sodium Hydroxide]] (NaOH) and [[Sodium Sulphite]] (Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>3</sub>) most of the hemicellulose and Lignen is removed leaving the Cellulose fibers. The cellulose is then compressed and heated. The Cellulose fibres collapse, and chemically bind together. | ||
| − | + | If martian farms grew hemp, hemp can have from 53 to 90% cellulose, so this would be an ideal raw material for this industrial process. | |
| + | |||
| + | ==Properties== | ||
| + | Superwood is a hard, steel like substance with the following properties: | ||
* 10 times more resistant to tearing than wood. | * 10 times more resistant to tearing than wood. | ||
* 50 times more resistant to compression than wood. | * 50 times more resistant to compression than wood. | ||
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* can be molded, like liquid metals, but at far lower temperatures. | * can be molded, like liquid metals, but at far lower temperatures. | ||
* better at absorbing neutron radiation than steel. | * better at absorbing neutron radiation than steel. | ||
| + | * it is a thermal insulator (tho not as good as natural wood). | ||
| + | |||
| + | It has a class A fire-rating. (Like stone, ceramic, or brick.) When exposed to fire, it gains surface char but does not burn. | ||
| − | It can be used anywhere steel can be used. | + | It is too tough for termites or other insects to eat. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsQRBFt25Ew</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | ==Uses== | ||
| + | It can be used anywhere steel can be used. Variations of it can also: | ||
* Make ultra strong fibers. | * Make ultra strong fibers. | ||
* Wood honey comb structural material. | * Wood honey comb structural material. | ||
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* Clear nano-paper. | * Clear nano-paper. | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | * https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25476 | ||
| + | * https://newatlas.com/materials/superwood-stronger-steel-inventwood/ | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Construction, Assembly, Maintenance]] | |
Latest revision as of 04:59, 1 July 2025
Superwood is a strong building material we can make on Mars.
Wood is made up of 40 to 50% of Cellulose fibers. In addition there is hemicellulose (20 to 30%) and lignen (15 to 30%) jointly holding it together, with 1 to 5% other stuff.
By boiling the wood in a solution of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Sodium Sulphite (Na2SO3) most of the hemicellulose and Lignen is removed leaving the Cellulose fibers. The cellulose is then compressed and heated. The Cellulose fibres collapse, and chemically bind together.
If martian farms grew hemp, hemp can have from 53 to 90% cellulose, so this would be an ideal raw material for this industrial process.
Properties
Superwood is a hard, steel like substance with the following properties:
- 10 times more resistant to tearing than wood.
- 50 times more resistant to compression than wood.
- 20 times more stiff than wood.
- Twice as strong a steel.
- 5 time lighter than steel.
- half the price to manufacture than steel.
- can be molded, like liquid metals, but at far lower temperatures.
- better at absorbing neutron radiation than steel.
- it is a thermal insulator (tho not as good as natural wood).
It has a class A fire-rating. (Like stone, ceramic, or brick.) When exposed to fire, it gains surface char but does not burn.
It is too tough for termites or other insects to eat. [1]
Uses
It can be used anywhere steel can be used. Variations of it can also:
- Make ultra strong fibers.
- Wood honey comb structural material.
- Insulating nano-wood.
- Radiative cooling wood.
- Wood aerogel.
- Transparent Wood. (Martian windows might be easier to build out of this than glass.)
- Translucent wood.
- Clear nano-paper.
References
- https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25476
- https://newatlas.com/materials/superwood-stronger-steel-inventwood/
