Nature provides numerous examples of elegant material design principles including for example stiffness gradients, fibre flow adaptations or specifically tailored interfaces. However, when natural materials such as wood are directly used, we cannot entirely profit from these strategies because they are not specifically designed for man-made applications but for the living tree.<br/>There are two main strategies to bypass this limitation and to develop the materials according to our needs. First, biological materials can act a role models for new materials design approaches, and their basic design principles are replicated within a synthetic system. This strategy, however, often comprise rather complex bottom-up processes that may face limitations in scalability and it remains challenging to reach the structural complexity of the biological material. The second strategy, is the modification of biological materials in a top down approach that allows for retaining the hierarchical structure and incorporating bioinspired concepts.<br/>Here, we present a top-down approach of increasing interest based on structure retaining delignification of wood, which results in a light-weight cellulose scaffold that is equipped with enhanced mechanical properties upon densification. Beyond rather simple densification treatments, we processed delignified wood into a novel material characterized by fibre flow adaptations within 3D shapes, mechanical gradients and tuneable functionality.  These characteristics are inspired by the tree and plants ability to locally tune their macro- and micro structure along with their chemistry.  A detailed focus will be given on the moisture triggered reversible interlocking between neighbouring fibres, which allows for shaping in wet state and endows the material with high strength and stiffness in dry condition. These materials represent a promising alternative for less sustainable materials such as glass fibre reinforced composites.<br/>

Case study tuneable wood: Transfer of bioinspired concepts into bio-based materials

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.