{"id":23285,"date":"2025-04-30T15:01:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T15:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=23285"},"modified":"2025-04-30T15:03:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T15:03:15","slug":"new-method-to-fortify-wood-for-sustainable-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/new-method-to-fortify-wood-for-sustainable-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"Fortifying Wood for Sustainable Construction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers led by Florida Atlantic University have discovered a method to reinforce wood using eco-friendly nano-iron, potentially transforming construction materials for a more sustainable future.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, alongside collaborators from the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are using innovative chemical treatments to enhance wood properties. This advancement could revolutionize sustainable construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key aspect of the study, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acsami.4c22384\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, involves fortifying wood cell walls with ferrihydrite, an iron oxide mineral. This mineral is introduced into the wood through a straightforward chemical reaction involving ferric nitrate and potassium hydroxide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notably, this method enhances wood strength without significantly increasing its weight or compromising environmental integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transforming Red Oak for Sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The research team focused on red oak, a prevalent North American hardwood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through a simple, eco-friendly procedure, they successfully infused the wood with nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxide, significantly reinforcing the wood&#8217;s tiny cell walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Wood, like many natural materials, has a complex structure with different layers and features at varying scales. To truly understand how wood bears loads and eventually fails, it\u2019s essential to examine it across these different levels,\u201d senior author Vivian Merk, an assistant professor at FAU, said in a news release. \u201cTo test our hypothesis \u2013 that adding tiny mineral crystals to the cell walls would strengthen them \u2013 we employed several types of mechanical testing at both the nanoscale and the macroscopic scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advanced Tools and Testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The research utilized cutting-edge techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure wood properties at a nanoscale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A specific method, AM-FM (Amplitude Modulation \u2013 Frequency Modulation), allowed for detailed surface imaging and analysis of the material&#8217;s elasticity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nanoindentation tests conducted within a scanning electron microscope (SEM) provided insights into the wood\u2019s response to force. These tests were complemented by standard mechanical tests to evaluate the treated wood\u2019s overall strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy looking at wood at different levels &#8212; from the microscopic structures inside the cell walls all the way up to the full piece of wood&#8211; we were able to learn more about how to chemically improve natural materials for real-world use,&#8221; Merk added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Broader Implications and Future Prospects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This research marks a significant advancement in sustainable materials science and a meaningful stride toward eco-friendly construction and design,&#8221; added Stella Batalama, dean of FAU\u2019s College of Engineering and Computer Science. \u201cBy reinforcing natural wood through environmentally conscious and cost-effective methods, our researchers are laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials that have the potential to replace traditional materials like steel and concrete in structural applications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study implies that with the right treatments, bio-based materials could become viable alternatives for constructing tall buildings, bridges, furniture and flooring, potentially reducing global carbon emissions and cutting down on waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fau.edu\/newsdesk\/articles\/nano-iron-wood-technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Florida Atlantic University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Researchers from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, alongside collaborators from the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are using innovative chemical treatments to enhance wood properties. This advancement could revolutionize sustainable construction. A key aspect of the study, published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, involves fortifying [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[58,293],"class_list":["post-23285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sustainability","tag-florida-atlantic-university","tag-university-of-miami"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Researchers from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, alongside collaborators from the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are using innovative chemical treatments to enhance wood properties. This advancement could revolutionize sustainable construction. A key aspect of the study, published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, involves fortifying&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23285"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23343,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23285\/revisions\/23343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}