Scientists Develop ‘Superwood’ Stronger Than Steel and Six Times Lighter

A Maryland-based company, InventWood, has unveiled a revolutionary new material known as “Superwood” — a chemically treated and compressed form of natural wood that is up to 10 times stronger than steel by weight, while remaining six times lighter.

The innovation, led by material scientist Liangbing Hu, emerged after more than a decade of research at the University of Maryland’s Center for Materials Innovation. Hu, now a professor at Yale, set out to reinvent one of the world’s oldest materials — not by replacing wood, but by re-engineering it at the cellular level.

Using a process that boils wood in water and specialized chemicals, then hot-presses it to collapse its cellular structure, the resulting material becomes denser, tougher, and resistant to dents, decay, and fire. The technique enhances cellulose — the main structural component of plants and the most abundant biopolymer on Earth.

“From a chemical and practical standpoint, it’s still wood,” said InventWood CEO Alex Lau. “It looks and behaves like wood, except it’s stronger in almost every measurable way.”

Manufactured in Frederick, Maryland, Superwood can make structures four times lighter than those built with traditional materials, improving earthquake resistance and reducing foundation loads. Its strength-to-weight ratio surpasses that of most structural metals and alloys, according to a study published in Nature.

InventWood plans to roll out Superwood for external applications such as decking and cladding, before expanding to interior uses like flooring, paneling, and furniture. In the long term, Lau envisions entire buildings made of Superwood — replacing metal fasteners and joints with wood strong enough to support itself.

The company claims Superwood is 20 times stronger than natural wood and 10 times more dent-resistant, while being impervious to fungi and insects. Despite a slightly higher production cost and carbon footprint than untreated timber, it still generates 90% fewer emissions than steel manufacturing.

The potential environmental impact is significant. Traditional concrete and steel production account for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, while wood naturally stores CO₂ through photosynthesis. Researchers say widespread adoption of engineered timber could turn cities into carbon storage systems.

However, experts caution that innovation alone won’t ensure change. “The real barrier isn’t strength,” said Philip Oldfield, Head of the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales. “It’s that the construction industry is slow to adapt. We need stronger pilot projects, education, and new regulations to unlock wood’s full potential.”

Still, Superwood marks a major step forward — not just for sustainable engineering, but for the possibility of replacing steel with one of nature’s oldest, most renewable resources.