AI News: Artificial Ironwood? Scientists Make Wood 10x Harder

Photo Credit: InventWood via CNN

[Thanks to Wand Gang member Jeff Black for submitting an interesting article]

According to CNN, materials scientists have created a new "superwood" that is "stronger than steel." Because Lignum Vitae, our original Ironwood Street Wand, now has a finite limited availability, I was intrigued by the possibility of a new ironwood, even if it's synthetic.

The headline is a bold claim-- wood that is stronger than steel. Even the hardest natural ironwoods are not actually as hard as steel. Based on the details in the article, I don't believe we're going to have a new Street Wand wood.

A big part of the claim revolved around iron being much heavier than wood. A long dowel of the superwood can support weight similar to an iron bar. Obviously, the bar is significantly heavier, and has to support its own weight as well as any load added. But that's merely one metric.
They boast that it is up to "20 times" stronger than common woods and "10 times more resistant to dents." This appears to be a claim about Janka hardness. This is a known number when it comes to our ironwood wands.

The average common wood like pine has a Janka Rating of about 350lb. That means it takes 350lb of force to press a half-inch metal ball into a pine board halfway. If the Superwood process 10x the Janka Hardness, it would be roughly 3,500lb. This is in the ball park of our many of our ironwoods. It is still not as hard as Genuine Lignum Vitae or Snakewood.

The process of making the wood so hard involved removing the materials that aren't cellulose and compressing the remaining cellulose. This would make for a pretty plain looking material that is dry and not resinous. It wouldn't be as smooth and pleasant as natural ironwood.

As far as competing with steel goes, no wood can complement concrete structures the way steel rebars do. Steel rebars and concrete coincidentally have matching fluctuations in size due to temperature. This means steel reinforced concrete can stay strong year round. Superwood can't do that.

It sounds like a promising medium size project material, like furniture, floors, or stairs. Superwood street wands will probably be off the menu, though. 

Get your own natural ironwood street wands Here.