Displays on most devices have been made of glass or plastic for a long time, but that could soon change. Currently, researchers are investigating transparent wood as a potential alternative to these two materials. Researchers in Sweden and Maryland have been experimenting with transparent wood and have found some exciting results.
How Do You Make Wood See-Through?
To make wood transparent, the researchers removed lignin, a brown substance that holds wood cells together. They replaced it with epoxy resin, which fills the holes left behind and makes the wood clear. Tests show transparent wood lets in 80-90% of light, only slightly less than glass.
Transparent Wood is Tougher Than You Think
When put to the strength test, transparent wood proved to be over 3 times stronger than plexiglass and a whole 10 times stronger than glass! Its thin sheets could make it perfect for smartphone and tablet screens that need to be durable.
More Uses Than Just Screens
Transparent wood may also work as an eco-friendly replacement for windows. Like smart windows, its transparency could be adjusted. Researchers are now trying different materials to make transparent wood even greener. The future of displays and windows could very well involve wood!
Could your next device have a wood screen instead of glass or plastic? Researchers are inching closer to making that a reality. Transparent wood seems like a strong and natural alternative material for tomorrow’s gadgets.
