Eco-Friendly, Multi-Mode Processable Highly Moldable Wood Enabled by the Reconstruction of Hydrogen-Bonding Domain

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Sustainable Manufacturing

Background:

• Advanced 3D engineering materials often rely on energy-intensive metals and plastics, posing challenges amid global energy concerns.
• Wood offers a sustainable alternative but its limited plasticity restricts its use in precision device manufacturing.
• Existing wood modification methods struggle with dimensional stability and environmental sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-energy hydrothermal process for manufacturing highly moldable wood.
• To enhance wood plasticity while maintaining cellulose structure stability for complex 3D shapes.
• To create a sustainable, dimensionally stable wood-based material as an alternative to conventional engineering materials.

Main Methods:

• Disrupting the native hydrogen-bond network in the wood cell wall via delignification to liberate the cellulose fibril matrix.
• Utilizing epoxidized soybean oil acrylate (AESO) for significant plasticization of the wood material.
• Reconstructing hydrogen-bond domains through controlled moisture variation and AESO surface protection.

Main Results:

• Achieved significantly enhanced wood plasticity, enabling complex 3D geometries like origami cranes and honeycombs.
• Demonstrated low-energy hydrothermal processing capabilities for shaped wood products.
• AESO effectively protected wood fibers, preventing collapse and ensuring dimensional stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed process yields highly moldable wood with enhanced plasticity and stability.
• This eco-friendly approach offers a viable alternative to energy-intensive materials for applications in aviation and transportation.
• The strategy addresses key limitations of wood composites, paving the way for sustainable advanced material manufacturing.