Superwood: The Next-Gen Wood Stronger Than Steel by InventWood
Discover how InventWood is revolutionizing construction with Superwood—a sustainable, steel-strong wood that's fire-resistant and eco-friendly.
Superwood: The Next-Gen Wood Stronger Than Steel by InventWood
Forget everything you thought you knew about timber. A material breakthrough from a Maryland lab is turning heads in the construction and climate tech industries—and it’s not science fiction anymore. It’s Superwood, a next-generation wood that’s about to go commercial.
From Lab Discovery to Climate-Smart Innovation
In 2018, Liangbing Hu, a materials scientist at the University of Maryland, discovered how to enhance ordinary timber into a super-strong, steel-beating material. At first, it looked like another promising idea destined to stay in academia.
That’s where InventWood came in.
“All these people came to him,” recalls InventWood CEO Alex Lau. “He’s like, OK, this is amazing, but I’m a university professor. I don’t know quite what to do about it.”
So instead of letting the idea fizzle, Hu improved the process—cutting production time from over a week to just a few hours—and licensed the innovation to InventWood.
Meet Superwood: Stronger, Lighter, and Greener
So what makes Superwood so… super?
It starts with regular timber, which is mostly made of cellulose and lignin. The goal is to amplify the natural strength of cellulose, which, believe it or not, is stronger than carbon fiber in its nanocrystal form.
The Science Behind the Strength
InventWood’s patented method involves:
- Treating wood with food-grade chemicals to tweak the lignin
- Compressing the treated wood to increase hydrogen bonds between cellulose molecules
That compression doesn’t just shrink the wood—it transforms it. As Lau explains:
“We might densify the material by 4x, and you might think, ‘Oh, it’ll be four times stronger,’ but it’s actually more like 10 times stronger because of all these extra bonds.”
The result? A wood product with:
- 50% more tensile strength than steel
- A strength-to-weight ratio 10x better than steel
- Class A fire resistance
- Rot and pest resistance
- Naturally rich, dark colors resembling tropical hardwoods like walnut or ipe
First Products: Facades and Skins
InventWood is starting production at a smaller commercial plant this summer, focusing initially on facade materials for high-end homes and commercial buildings.
“Right now, we’re focused on skin applications,” says Lau. “Eventually we want to get to the bones of the building.”
Sustainability at the Core
The real mission? Cutting down the carbon impact of the construction industry. Around 90% of a building’s carbon footprint comes from concrete and steel. Superwood offers a sustainable, low-carbon alternative.
Backed by Big Green Investors
To get the plant up and running, InventWood raised $15 million in the first close of its Series A funding round. The round was led by the Grantham Foundation with participation from Baruch Future Ventures, Builders VC, and Muus Climate Partners.
Future Vision: Structural Beams from Wood Chips
Looking ahead, InventWood aims to turn wood chips into structural beams—no finishing required. These beams won’t just be sustainable; they’ll be aesthetically beautiful too.
“Imagine your I-beams look like this,” Lau says, holding up a gleaming sample. “They’re beautiful, like walnut. These are the natural colors. We haven’t stained any of this.”
Conclusion
What InventWood is doing with Superwood is more than a materials innovation—it’s a paradigm shift. With steel-rivaling strength, fire resistance, and deep sustainability roots, Superwood could be the eco-material the world has been waiting for.
Whether you’re a builder, designer, or climate advocate, this is one revolution you’ll want to keep an eye on.