Wood Reinforced with Nano-Iron for the Green Materials of the Future

Wood made more resistant thanks to the addition of iron nanoparticles is added to the ever-growing list of green materials of the future : one day, these biologically-based materials could replace traditional ones used in construction , such as steel and concrete, going on to form buildings, bridges, floors and furniture . This is according to a study led by the American Florida Atlantic University (Fau) and published in the journal Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces, which has found a way to fortify the cells that make up wood without making it heavy, expensive or harmful to the environment.

With around 181.5 billion tonnes produced globally each year, wood is one of the largest renewable sources of materials . Researchers led by Vivian Merk focused in particular on the type of wood characteristic of trees such as oak, maple, cherry and walnut, which has large, ring-shaped sap vessels that transport water from the roots to the leaves. They then introduced iron in the form of a mineral commonly found in soil, water and even living organisms, called ferrihydrite . The method proved to be simple and cheap , and the results show that it can make the wood stronger and more durable by adding only a small amount of extra weight. Other properties , such as the ability to bend and break , remained unchanged.

“This research marks a significant advance in sustainable materials science and an important step toward eco-friendly construction and design,” says Stella Batalama, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at FAU, who was not involved in the study. “The impact of this work extends far beyond the field of engineering: it contributes to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, reduce waste, and adopt sustainable, nature-inspired solutions,” Batalama says.