DARPA will soon make strong and reusable scrap wood

This is according to a press release by the organization published last week.

If DARPA’s project works, the DoD’s waste and overall carbon footprint associated with construction and defense will be reduced while sustainable building materials will be increased.

How it works

The program is based on recent studies that have shown that through chemical treatment and pressing, wood can be densified with enhanced mechanical properties. This newly-enhanced wood allows for unique modes of energy dispersion, enhanced durability, and greater strength-to-weight than steel.

So far, these materials have only been created in small amounts with virgin lumber, but early results indicate that wood chips and scrap lumber may be used as the source for creating densified wood-like products. Better yet, DARPA has identified biological processes that may replace the harsh chemical processes needed to transform the source material.

“Waste Upcycling for Defense (WUD) seeks to advance the science of densification to create efficient ‘green’ methods of turning various types of cellulosic waste into strong, sustainable materials,” noted WUD program manager Catherine Campbell. “Finished products could greatly reduce the need for re-supply of traditional wood products, such as harvested lumber used in DoD construction and logistics.”

In order to be usable by DARPA, these new materials will need to possess improved durability characteristics, including fire resistance, water resistance, and corrosion/weather durability. They will also need to be scalable with reduced use of chemical reagents. WUD is also exploring the potential of using combinations of various cellulosic waste types to produce its new construction materials.

“If successful, technology developed for WUD will pave the way for highly efficient reuse of materials both in support of national security efforts and commercially,” Campbell concluded in the statement.

The WUD program is expected to take 24 months to complete and will work with a variety of stakeholders to ensure its safety and efficacy.