TRANSPARENT WOOD:

WINDOW OF THE FUTURE

 TRANSPARENT WOOD
It is created when wood from the fast-growing,
low-density balsa tree is treated to a room
temperature, oxidizing bath that bleaches it of
nearly all visibility. The wood is then penetrated with
a synthetic polymer called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA),
creating a product that is virtually transparent.
It has been first fabricated by German scientist
Siegried Fink in 1992 and his method has been
improved on by subsequent researchers such as
Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) researcher
Junyong Zhu in co-collaboration with colleagues
from the University of Maryland and University of
Colorado.
In their research entitled “A Clear, Strong, and
Thermally Insulated Transparent Wood for Energy
Efficient Windows,” they found out that transparent
wood has the potential to outperform glass
currently used in construction in nearly every way.
 Manufacturing Process
Wood Selection
The first step in the procedure is to
choose the right kind of wood.
Balsa wood is usually selected
because of its consistent structure
and low density. Other kinds of
wood, though, can also be
employed.
Compression
After that, the impregnated wood
is crushed to eliminate any last
traces of air bubbles and
guarantee that the polymer is
dispersed uniformly throughout
the wood structure. Additionally,
the material's strength and
density are increased by this
compression process.
Impregnation
Delignification The wood is treated with a
The process of delignification involves translucent polymer following
taking the lignin out of the wood. The delignification. This polymer
natural polymer lignin is what gives
strengthens and enhances
wood its distinct color and opacity.
transparency by filling the wood's
When lignin is removed, wood
becomes transparent. Delignification pores and cell walls. For this,
can be accomplished in a number of polymethyl methacrylate, or
ways, such as enzymatic and chemical PMMA, is frequently utilized.
treatments using sodium hypochlorite
or hydrogen peroxide.
Finishing
Curing By curing the compressed
By curing the compressed wood, the polymer is able
wood, the polymer is able to solidify and form a bond
with the wood fibers.
to solidify and form a bond
with the wood fibers.
 BENEFITS
More durable, ductile, and lighter than glass - It can withstand
much stronger impacts than glass and, unlike glass, it bends or
splinters instead of shattering. Transparent wood is lighter than
glass, which might be useful in situations where weight is
important, such as cars or aircraft components.
Cost efficient - It is estimated to cost about $1 a square foot
and it is approximately five times more thermally efficient than
glass, cutting energy costs. Transparent wood may have
superior insulating capabilities than typical glass windows,
minimizing heat transmission and enhancing energy efficiency
in buildings.
Aesthetic Appeal - Transparent wood preserves the original
wood grain and texture while allowing light to pass through,
resulting in a visually appealing look that mixes the warmth of
wood with the modernism of glass.
Environmental Friendly - It is made from a sustainable, biodegradable,
and renewable resource with low carbon emissions. Wood is a renewable
resource, and by using transparent wood, we may be able to lessen our
reliance on nonrenewable materials such as glass in some applications.
Transparent wood preserves the biodegradability of natural wood,
offering it an eco-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable materials
such as plastics in some applications.
Compatible with existing industrial processing
equipment
Sound Insulation - Wood is recognized for its acoustic
qualities, and translucent wood may provide better sound
insulation than typical glass, making it ideal for noise-
sensitive areas.
 APPLICATIONS
01. Transparent wood roofs can be designed to certain
buildings for providing uniform and comfortable
illumination as compared to conventional glass.

02. In addition, Panels can be built from transparent wood

which exhibits lower thermal conductivity, better impact
strength, and lower density as compared to glass.

03. Functionalized transparent wood provides even better

opportunities for smart buildings. By inclusion of quantum
dots, transparent wood attains diffused luminescence
properties. This can be used in planar light sources,
luminescent building elements, or designed furniture.
04. In order to provide electromagnetic interference
shielding to the transparent wood, magnetic
nanoparticles have been incorporated into it.

05. Another important application of transparent

wood is; it is used as a structural material for some of
the photovoltaic devices such as electrochromic
devices and solar cells. Because of the high haze,
transparent wood can be designed as a light-
diffusing layer. Furthermore, high haze means large
scattering angles, which increase the length of the
light path inside solar cells, so that efficiency is
improved.
06. The devices exhibit a vibrant magenta-to-clear color
change with a high coloration efficiency and low driving
voltage. This entire concept will contribute to smart
windows, which in turn saves energy.

07. Transparent wood can be used on façades in cases

where there is a requirement for sunlight to illuminate the
interior, but privacy is equally important. It is because of the
high values of optical haze in transparent wood, which lets
the light in, but clouds the view; it can be used for those
peculiar cases.
 compatible with existing industrial
processing equipment
Transparent wood has all the
strength of opaque lumber.
It does not shatter on impact and
is stronger than glass.
It is better when at light
distribution and eliminates glare.
It helps keep a building at a more consistent
temperature and make it easier to reach higher
energy efficiency. This is because wood has low
thermal conductivity.
Another advantage of transparent wood over
glass for structural applications is that the
ductility and work to fracture are higher.
These materials often act as a
substitute for glass because they
can be made transparent which
gives architects much more design
freedom, as they would be able to
incorporate natural light into
buildings with load-bearing and
structural transparent panels. They
are used in applications where the
natural fragility of glass makes it
inappropriate or unsafe, such as in
safety screens or electronic
interfaces.
 ENVIRONMENTAL
ADVANTAGES
Like other plant-derived
materials, transparent wood has
numerous environmental
advantages. Notably, it can be grown
(rather than extracted) indefinitely,
with new growth also capturing and
sequestering carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere. As wood, it is also
biodegradable.
Recently, biochemical engineers
from the Indian Institute of
Technology published the results of a life
cycle assessment of transparent wood.
Their article, published in the journal
Science of the Total Environment, stated
that the renewable and biodegradable
features of transparent wood make it
more environmentally friendly than
transparent plastic used for similar
applications.
Currently, petroleum-based plastics like
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic,
polyethylene, and others supply relatively huge
sections of the global industry’s need for new
materials. These materials lead to environmental
damage at multiple stages in their life cycle, from
raw material (oil) extraction through to treatment,
manufacturing, and disposal.

These materials often act as a substitute for glass

because they can be made transparent. They are
used in applications where the natural fragility of
glass makes it inappropriate or unsafe, such as in
safety screens or electronic interfaces.
Transparent wood made with sodium
chlorite as the lignin-removing agent had a
much smaller environmental impact than
transparent wood using methacrylate
polymer, according to the life cycle
assessment.

In terms of end-of-life concerns, the study

found that glass is actually more
environmentally friendly than transparent
wood, as it is easier to recycle and non-toxic
if it does find its way into landfills (eventually
breaking down into silica sand). But in this
respect, transparent wood still outperformed
plastic alternatives.
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION