Reconstructing Poplar Wood into a High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Biocomposite

Green high-performance composite materials are in great demand thanks to the increased environmental awareness. Wood is a natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite, but its properties can hardly compete with those of artificial, much less sustainable, ones. In Central Europe, climate change-induced environmental changes will force the industrial adoption of fast-growing, drought-resistant wood species (such as poplar) with inferior mechanical properties compared to more commonly used ones (such as spruce). In response to these challenges, we describe the fabrication of a novel fully biobased high-performance composite obtained by reconstructing poplar wood. Our process is based on a combination of structure-retaining delignification, relignification, and densification, resulting in a product with superior mechanical properties and water stability. Our "reconstructed poplar" is a green composite suitable for engineering applications and an example of undervalorized wood species upcycling.