Prospects and Applications of Biomass-Based Transparent Wood: An Architectural Glass Perspective

Wang, Jing; Zhu, Jiangang

doi:10.3389/fchem.2021.747385

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

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“…Wood composites offer a variety of uses and advantages by combining the best qualities of both natural and synthetic materials 4 – 6 . Transparent wood (TW) is one of the novel concepts among such wood polymer composites which possess unique optical properties making it a fit input material for variety of applications 7 , 8 . TW combines the physical properties of wood with distinctive light transmittance characteristic 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transparent wood composite prepared from two commercially important tropical timber species

Anish,

Pandey,

Kumar

2023

Sci Rep

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Transparent wood (TW) has garnered significant global attention due to its unique properties. In this study, TW composites were fabricated using two timber species of different density classes: Ailanthus triphysa (common name: Ailanthus wood) and Hevea brasiliensis (common name: Rubberwood). Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and Hydrogen peroxide-based alkali method was used to modify the lignin in these veneer samples, producing a white cellulose template with a fully intact hierarchical cell structure. Subsequently, a cost-effective thermosetting unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) was infiltrated into the redesigned framework and polymerized to create rigid nanostructured transparent composites. High optical haze (of 94% and 89%) and favourable light transmittance of 59 and 55 percent were exhibited by the UPR-TW composites made from rubberwood and ailanthus wood, respectively. TW was characterised using Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of TW were measured and compared with those of natural wood and pure-polymer. Furthermore, the anisotropic light diffusion behaviour displayed by TW in accordance with the fibre orientation indicates the utility of material as a potential light shaping device. Therefore, a cost-effective and commercially viable strategy to fabricate multipurpose TW composites using a combination of lesser-known timber species (LKTS) and UPR resin was successfully demonstrated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transparent wood composite prepared from two commercially important tropical timber species

Anish,

Pandey,

Kumar

2023

Sci Rep

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Fabrication, Functionalities and Applications of Transparent Wood: A Review

Xin

Wang

et al. 2023

Adv Funct Materials

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Transparent wood (TW)‐based materials have increasingly become the focus of researchers worldwide owing to their superior physico‐chemical‐optical properties, sustainable nature, as well as the fact that they are highly accommodating frameworks that can act as building blocks to readily explore a vast range of potential functionalities, holding great potential to displace glass and plastics in their various respective applications. The integration of multiple functionalities into TW has been undertaken to fulfill the demands of prospective sophisticated applications through the utilization of functional fillers or coatings. Herein, the up‐to‐date foundational developments and reports concerning emergent TW composites and coatings from a perspective of fabrication‐functionality‐application are comprehensively summarized, with a particular focus on seven specific functionalities; i) solar control; ii) chromically‐responsive, iii) electrically‐conductive, iv) shape‐memory active; v) flame‐retardant; vi) electromagnetic interference shielding; and vii) aesthetics. The potential applications of TW with these functionalities are also discussed. Finally, the current challenge with TW is addressed, as well as the future developments required for eventual real‐world application.

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