transparent wood, which may be the best known insulator

Numerous advances in the development of new building materials are providing impetus in the fight to decarbonize the planet. Sweden is one of the countries committed to this cause and has already spread a great innovation that can tell you goodbye glass in constructionpresenting a modern insulation project with unrivaled properties.

What characteristics does the new insulator have?

Swedish scientist Lars Berglund, a representative of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH), announced the creation of a new bioactive material from wooden slats, which, due to the characteristics of its composition, can replace glass in construction.

A laboratory experiment has shown that combining an organic and noble material, such as balsa wood, and a polymer can create a new resource that reduces opacity and has thermal insulation properties

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Thus he created a transparent wood that could finally replace glass in construction due to its crystal-like properties and broad benefits as an insulator against extreme temperatures.

This new one The optically crystalline material is an excellent resource for lightweight structures. like the transparent cells of solar panels, and provides greater stability due to its mechanized structure than glass in construction. In addition, it has a much lower cost and greater thermal capabilities.

What is the new material that is replacing glass in construction?

Berglund incorporated a transparent polymer into the porous substrate of wood cell walls, which combined to significantly reduce the level of parent lignin, the substance that gives the material its color and opacity, the scientific study shows.

As a result, the transparency property was solved, although the use of another substance was required to eliminate the signs of moisture in the wood. So he decided add an acrylic element called polyethylene glycol (PEG).which had thermal properties.

Thus, as a result of the delignification process, clean and transparent wood with high insulating characteristics was obtained, eliminating the use of glass in construction. However, there are other options for sustainable insulation.

What are the energy benefits of this new transparent wood?

Sintering of various polymers in combination with organic substances resulted in a bioactive substance with very low levels of opacity and high heat capacity. This innovative material can capture solar energy and absorb stored heat.

Thus, transparent wood tends to retain excess heat, maintaining a moderate environmental balance in a building exposed to high temperatures is a problem that glass in construction does not solve.

Likewise, when the temperature drops, polyethylene glycol (PEG) hardens and releases the energy stored inside to heat the environment. This feature allows for extreme savings in the energy used by heaters and air conditioners.

There are still details to be resolved

Although the new material is more respectful than others such as building glass, plastic or cement, it faces a sustainability challenge. And that’s what The acrylic used for clarity and insulation is not biodegradable..

That’s why Lars Berglund’s team of scientists continues to work on creating new combinations of 100% environmentally friendly and recyclable elements. He has now presented his project at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Its goal is to implement the laboratory prototype on a global scale and replace the glass under construction. Royal Institute of Technology expects the new transparent wood project to be completed and ready in 5 years. While we wait for improvements to the project, here are some more sustainable ideas for you.