InventWood Innovation
Superwood Dashboard
The strength of steel. The soul of wood.
Advancing Space Exploration, Innovation, Inspiration in a Sustainable, Inventwood Way.
144
Patents Filed
41
Patents Granted
10x
Stronger Than Steel
~6x
Lighter Than Steel
Founded
2016
Founder
Dr. Liangbing Hu
HQ
Frederick, Maryland
Total Funding
$80M+ raised
University Partners
UMD, Yale, ND, Clemson, OSU, Auburn
Recognition
Fast Company 2025
Funding & Grants
Chemical Modification
Using food-safe chemicals, wood is prepared for transformation at the molecular level.
Precision Densification
Wood is compressed using precision-controlled techniques, increasing density up to 4x, creating hydrogen bonds between cellulose fibers.
Optional Finishing
SUPERWOOD can be further customized through polishing, shaping, or coating to meet specific design requirements.
Strength-to-Weight — relative to baseline
Values shown as multiples of Aluminum 6061-T6 = 1.00x
| Feature | Superwood | Aluminum | Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer | Titanium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Safety | ~180°C continuous service limit[7] | 175°C service limit (6061-T6, MatWeb) | 121°C (250°F) service temp; Tg dry 154°C (309°F) (Hexcel HexPly 8552 datasheet) | 350°C service limit (Carpenter Ti-6Al-4V datasheet); creep onset ~399°C (NASA MDH CR-123795) |
| Strength | Up to 10x strength-to-weight | UTS 310 MPa, Yield 276 MPa (6061-T6, MatWeb) | 0° UTS 2,137 MPa (AS4/8552) – 2,724 MPa (IM7/8552); brittle in transverse (Hexcel datasheet) | UTS 951 MPa, Yield 883 MPa (NASA MDH CR-123795; Carpenter datasheet) |
| Durability | Resists cosmic rays, particle impact | Corrosion resistant; fatigue limit 96.5 MPa (MatWeb) | CAI 34.6–42.5 ksi; delamination risk; OHC 47.8–53.7 ksi (Hexcel HexPly 8552) | Excellent corrosion resistance; machinability 22% of B1112 (Carpenter) |
| Weight | ~6x lighter than steel | 2.7 g/cc density (6061-T6, MatWeb) | ~1.58 g/cc (resin 0.0470 lb/in³; Hexcel HexPly 8552 datasheet) | 4.43 g/cc density (NASA MDH CR-123795) |
| Carbon | 90% lower than steel | High emissions | Very high embodied energy; non-recyclable | Very high emissions |
Sources
- MatWeb — Aluminum 6061-T6 material data sheet: density 2.7 g/cc, UTS 310 MPa, yield 276 MPa, fatigue limit 96.5 MPa, service limit 175°C.
- Hexcel HexPly 8552 Product Data Sheet (2026) — Service temp 121°C (250°F), Tg dry 154°C (309°F), 0° UTS: AS4/8552 2,137 MPa, IM7/8552 2,724 MPa; CAI 34.6–42.5 ksi; OHC 47.8–53.7 ksi; resin density 0.0470 lb/in³ (~1.30 g/cc).
- NASA Materials Data Handbook: Titanium 6Al-4V, CR-123795, NASA/MSFC (1972) — Density 4.424 g/cc, UTS 951 MPa (138 ksi), yield 883 MPa (128 ksi); good hot strength to 750°F (399°C).
- Carpenter Technology Ti 6Al-4V Data Sheet — Service temp up to 350°C (660°F); machinability rated 22% of AISI B1112 steel.
- Gan, W., Chen, C., Wang, Z., Song, J., Kuang, Y., He, S., Mi, R., Sunderland, P. B., & Hu, L. — "Dense, Self-Formed Char Layer Enables a Fire-Retardant Wood Structural Material," Advanced Functional Materials, 29, 1807444 (2019). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201807444. Key findings: delignification + densification (UMD / Liangbing Hu Lab) yields 2.08× longer ignition time, 34.6% lower peak heat release rate, and 82× higher post-fire compressive strength vs. natural wood. Self-formed char layer blocks O₂ and heat transport — underpins fire-resistance claims for densified wood composites.
- Beall, F. C. & Eickner, H. W. — "Thermal Degradation of Wood Components: A Review of the Literature," USDA Forest Service Research Paper FPL-130, USDA Forest Service (1970).
- ~180°C continuous service limit (Superwood / densified wood) — Derived from USFS FPL-130 pyrolysis zone definitions: Zone A (<200°C) is structurally stable; Zone B (200–280°C) marks onset of endothermic decomposition. Conservative ceiling of ~180°C adopted as safe continuous service limit for cellulosic materials. Densification (Gan et al., AFM 2019) delays ignition 2.08× and reduces peak heat release rate by 34.6% but does not shift the pyrolysis onset temperature.
Adjust variables to simulate real-time performance
Wood Density
Compression ratio of cellulose structure
Applied Pressure
Hot-pressing force during densification
Chemical Treatment
Lignin removal & fire-resistant formulation level
Compare Against
Total: 144 patents filed across 10+ technology categories covering every aspect of wood molecular transformation.
Technology Categories
Key Breakthroughs
| Patent # | Title | Status | Category | Date | Inventors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US12576551 | Modified wood and transparent wood composites | granted | Transparent Wood | 2026-03-17 | Liangbing Hu, Ruiyu Mi, Qinqin Xia, Chaoji Chen, Tian Li |
| US12529187 | Bamboo structures, and methods for fabrication and use thereof | granted | Bamboo | 2026-01-20 | Liangbing Hu, Chaoji Chen, Zhihan Li, Jiaqi Dai |
| US12509822 | Evaporative devices having delignified plant materials | granted | Other | 2025-12-30 | Liangbing Hu, Chaoji Chen, Zhihan Li, Jianguo Li |
| US12122065 | Truncating the distribution of modulus properties in natural populations of wood | granted | Manufacturing | 2024-10-22 | Allan Bradshaw, Jack G. Winterowd |
| US20250010511 | Truncating the distribution of modulus properties in wood (continuation) | pending | Manufacturing | 2025-01-09 | Allan Bradshaw, Jack G. Winterowd |
| US20200223091 | Strong and tough structural wood materials and methods | granted | Densified Wood | 2020-07-16 | Liangbing Hu, Jianwei Song, Chaoji Chen |
| US11440214 | Flexible wood structures and devices, and methods for fabricating | granted | Flexible Wood | 2022-09-13 | Liangbing Hu |
| US20260070315 | Vacuum-insulated structures employing plant materials | pending | Insulation | 2026-03-12 | Jiaqi Dai, Amy Gong, Liangbing Hu |
| US20260055552 | Extraction of delignified cellulose-based fibers from natural plant material | pending | Nano-Cellulose | 2026-02-26 | Liangbing Hu, Chaoji Chen, Zhihan Li |
| US20250346027 | Methods of joining dissimilar materials | pending | Manufacturing | 2025-11-13 | Alan Luo, Matt Hartsfield, Liangbing Hu |
| US20230029556 | Construction of structural members from densified wood | pending | Densified Wood | 2023-02-02 | Liangbing Hu et al. |
| US12168727 | Transparent wood composite, systems and method of fabrication | granted | Transparent Wood | 2024-12-17 | Liangbing Hu, Mingwei Zhu, Tian Li, Amy S. Gong, Jianwei Song |
Click a component to see how SUPERWOOD can replace it
Click any component on the diagram to explore replacement options
Current ISS panels (NOMEX, Kevlar composites, aluminum honeycomb) compared to densified SUPERWOOD
Head-to-Head Performance Scorecard
Capability Radar
- ISS Materials
- SUPERWOOD
Pros
- +Extensively tested in space environment
- +Proven fire retardancy (ASTM E662, NASA STD-6001)
- +Zero off-gassing formulations validated
- +High moisture & mold resistance
- +Decades of flight heritage
Cons
- −Heavy — increases launch cost significantly
- −Petroleum-based — high carbon footprint
- −Synthetic polymers can off-gas VOCs over time
- −Non-biodegradable — orbital debris concern
- −High material & manufacturing cost
Pros
- +~6x lighter than steel (~3x vs aluminum panels)
- +Cellulose absorbs radiation better than Al per kg
- +Carbon-negative & sustainably sourced
- +Comparable or better machinability than composites
- +Transparent wood variant enables natural light diffusion
Cons
- −Not yet space-qualified (no long-duration ISS flight data)
- −Moisture management requires treatment in humid modules
- −Fire-rating validation needed for NASA STD-6001
- −Supply chain not yet scaled for aerospace volumes
- −Transparent wood optics unproven in radiation environment
Verdict: SUPERWOOD outperforms ISS interior materials on weight, radiation shielding per kg, sustainability, and cost — but requires space qualification testing before adoption. The biggest near-term opportunity is non-structural interior panels and radiation liner layers where fire and moisture risks are manageable.
Estimate CO₂ reduction, mass savings & radiation shielding vs. aluminum
Scenario Parameters
Panel Volume per Spacecraft
Number of Panels per Spacecraft
Number of Missions / Spacecraft
Total Mass Saved (across all missions)
15.0k kg
56% lighter per spacecraft
≈ $75.0M launch cost savings at $5,000/kg to LEO
Lifetime CO₂ Reduction
324.9k kg
CO₂ equivalent avoided
Aluminum emits 11.5 kg CO₂/kg; SUPERWOOD sequesters carbon during growth
Radiation Shielding Improvement
+35%
better than aluminum per unit mass
Hydrogen-rich cellulose absorbs high-energy protons more effectively
Mass per Spacecraft (kg)
Total CO₂ Emissions Across All Missions (kg)
Radiation Shielding Index (higher = better)
- SUPERWOOD
- Aluminum
Assumptions: Aluminum production emissions: 11.5 kg CO₂/kg (IAI average). SUPERWOOD net carbon: −1.2 kg CO₂/kg (sequestration minus processing). Densified wood density: ~1,200 kg/m³. Launch cost: $5,000/kg to LEO (Falcon 9 estimate). Radiation shielding: cellulose provides ~35% better proton attenuation per kg than aluminum per published NASA CNC research.
Ring size = funding level · Fill size = market penetration · Click any marker for details
| Company / Program | Country | Type | Funding | Penetration | TRL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accsys / Accoya | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Modified / Treated | 8 | 9 | |
| Enviva | 🇺🇸 USA | Modified / Treated | 7 | 9 | |
| Kebony | 🇳🇴 Norway | Modified / Treated | 6 | 9 | |
| Nippon Paper | 🇯🇵 Japan | Nanocellulose | 6 | 8 | |
| InventWood / SUPERWOOD | 🇺🇸 USA | Densified Wood | 4 | 5 | |
| WOODOO | 🇫🇷 France | Densified Wood | 4 | 6 | |
| Avant Wood | 🇫🇮 Finland | Modified / Treated | 4 | 8 | |
| BamCore / Global Bamboo Technologies | 🇺🇸 USA | Bamboo / Alt-Fiber | 4 | 7 | |
| LignoSat | 🇯🇵 Japan | Space Wood | 3 | 7 | |
| Rizome | 🇺🇸 USA | Bamboo / Alt-Fiber | 3 | 7 | |
| HempWood | 🇺🇸 USA | Bamboo / Alt-Fiber | 2 | 7 | |
| NASA / USDA FPL | 🇺🇸 USA | Nanocellulose | 2 | 4 | |
| VTT | 🇫🇮 Finland | Nanocellulose | 2 | 5 | |
| Aalto University | 🇫🇮 Finland | Densified Wood | 1 | 4 | |
| Cellulose Sciences International | 🇺🇸 USA | Nanocellulose | 1 | 3 |
Wood technology competitors mapped by TRL, threat level, and aerospace relevance
12
Competitors Tracked
1
High Threat
4
Medium Threat
2
Aerospace Active
InventWood's Competitive Moat
IP Protection
144 patents
vs avg <10 for peers
Federal Pedigree
ARPA-E + DARPA
only wood company with both
Aerospace TRL
TRL 3→5
only company actively pursuing NASA SBIR
Estimate launch cost savings when Superwood reduces spacecraft structural mass
Total wet mass at launch
Structural mass: 150 kg
Fraction of structural mass replaced with Superwood
Effective Cost / kg
$6,900/kg
Falcon 9 → GEO
Baseline Launch Cost
$3,453,750
500 kg × $6,900/kg
With Superwood
$3,069,675
445 kg (saved 56 kg)
Total Savings
$384,075
11.1% cost reduction
Assumptions
Mass Savings
Superwood reduces structural mass by 74% per unit volume relative to conventional structural materials (Li et al. 2018, Science Advances). Only the fraction of structural mass designated for replacement is reduced.
Launch Vehicle Costs — Hybrid Methodology
Data Source: Commercial provider published rates (2024–2025) adjusted with NASA Cost Escalation Factors (1.15× for 2020–2026 inflation per NASA CEH v4.0).
- Falcon 9 — SpaceX rideshare published pricing adjusted for inflation; $2,720/kg LEO baseline. (SpaceX, 2024)
- Falcon Heavy — SpaceX published pricing; $1,700/kg LEO baseline. (SpaceX, 2024)
- Starship — NASA-adjusted estimates assuming operational reusability; ~$300–1,200/kg by orbit. Early-stage commercial vehicle. (SpaceX, 2024–2025)
- Electron — Rocket Lab published pricing; $13,500/kg LEO baseline. Optimized for SmallSat. (Rocket Lab, 2024)
- Neutron — Rocket Lab projected medium-lift rates; $8,000/kg LEO baseline. Not yet operational. (Rocket Lab, 2024)
- Vulcan Centaur — ULA pricing estimates; $2,700/kg LEO baseline. (ULA, 2024)
- Ariane 6 — ESA/ArianeGroup published targets; $4,000/kg LEO baseline. (ESA, 2024)
- New Glenn — Blue Origin projected rates; $2,500/kg LEO baseline. Under development. (Blue Origin, 2024–2025)
Payload Class Multipliers (NASA-based)
SmallSat (<100 kg): ×1.4 — smaller payloads pay a premium per kg due to non-recurring cost amortization over fewer units. Medium (100–1,000 kg): ×1.0 — baseline. Heavy (>1,000 kg): ×0.8 — volume discount on large dedicated launches reflecting learning curve benefits. Per NASA CEH v4.0 and Space Systems Engineering Module, learning curves typically operate at 85-90% for aerospace production.
Mission Type Multipliers
Rideshare: ×0.6 — significantly lower cost per kg by sharing vehicle capacity with other payloads, at the expense of schedule flexibility and orbit choice. Dedicated: ×1.0 — full vehicle reserved for a single customer.
Orbit Cost Multipliers
SSO, GEO, MEO, and HEO costs scaled from LEO baseline using industry-standard orbit energy relationships. Actual costs depend on inclination, deployment altitude, and mission design.
Methodology: Parametric Cost Estimating
Approach: Hybrid methodology per NASA CEH v4.0 and Space Systems Engineering Module. Cost estimate = parametric launch vehicle rates (Cost Estimating Relationship) + labor costs adjusted for material complexity. Complexity factors (0.2–2.0) account for technology novelty; Superwood is assigned 1.25× (new material, moderate development risk). Nonrecurring costs (DDT&E) include design, development, test. Recurring costs (production) include flight hardware; learning curves at 85% slope applied to multi-unit production.
Cost Phasing: Schedule Distribution
Beta Curve Allocation (NASA standard, page 37): Costs spread over project schedule using beta distribution. For flight hardware (complex, single copy): ~60% expended by project midpoint, peak spending during integration and test (Curve 1 profile). For ground infrastructure (simple, multiple functions): ~40% by midpoint, later acceleration (Curve 4 profile). Superwood replacement cost is phased into manufacturing/integration phase (final 40% of development schedule per page 23: flight hardware build begins at Critical Design Review).
Cost Confidence Levels
Point estimates shown represent ~50% confidence (mean). Actual project budgets at kickoff typically target 65–70% confidence to account for identified risks (page 34, ISS example). Early phase (A/B) estimates carry ±50% uncertainty; Phases C/D ±20–30%. Superwood material integration adds ~10% contingency to reflect moderate technical risk during initial application.
General Caveats
All figures are illustrative estimates. Actual launch pricing varies significantly by contract type, negotiation, manifest priority, and vehicle configuration. No contractual pricing is implied. Per NASA CEH, cost accuracy improves with project maturity: Phase A/B estimates (–50% to +100% variance), Phase C estimates (–30% to +50% variance), Phase D estimates (–20% to +30% variance).
Estimate months and cost to qualify SUPERWOOD for a specific space application
Target Application
66 mo
To Qualification
Jul 2031
Target Date
Required Tests
- ASTM E595
- NASA-STD-6001B
- Vibration/Acoustic
- MUA Filing
TRL Advancement Timeline
Model basis: TRL advancement rates derived from NASA TRL Calculator methodology and DARPA program data. Assumes no major test failures requiring reformulation.
Lifecycle CO₂ comparison: SUPERWOOD vs traditional aerospace materials
Baseline Material
11.5 kg CO₂/kg embodied carbon
10360 kg
CO₂ Saved
≈ 493
Trees equivalent
Method: Embodied carbon from Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3.0. SUPERWOOD sequestration modeled at 1.8 kg CO₂/kg dry wood minus 0.4 kg for densification processing.
Optimize SUPERWOOD substitution across spacecraft components to hit your mass budget
Components
68
20
15
11
9
85
40
100
25
35
✓ Under Budget
Original: 520 kg → Optimized: 408 kg
−112 kg
mass saved
Optimized Mass Distribution
SW% = % of component replaced by SUPERWOOD. Click "SW / locked" to toggle replaceability. Edit mass inline.
Find the optimal grant & SBIR stack for your current stage and target
Company Stage
Primary Focus Area
Eligible programs
13
Max stackable total
$12.0M
Target fully coverable by grants
Recommended Funding Stack
13 programs matched
ARPA-E OPEN Program
$3.0M
min $500K
TRL 2–5
USDA Wood Innovation Grant
$2.0M
min $250K
TRL 4–8
DARPA SBIR / BAA
$1.5M
min $250K
TRL 3–6
DOE SBIR Phase II
$1.1M
TRL 4–6
NSF SBIR Phase II
$1.0M
TRL 4–6
NASA SBIR Phase II
$750K
TRL 4–6
NASA STRG (University)
$500K
min $250K
TRL 1–4
ISS National Lab (CASIS)
$500K
min $100K
TRL 4–7
NIST MEP Cost-Share
$500K
min $100K
TRL 3–7
TEDCO Maryland Innovation
$500K
min $100K
TRL 3–7
NSF SBIR Phase I
$275K
TRL 2–4
DOE SBIR Phase I
$200K
TRL 2–4
NASA SBIR Phase I
$150K
TRL 2–4
Tip: It is common and encouraged to hold simultaneous awards from NSF, NASA, and DOE for different phases of the same technology. InventWood's ARPA-E history gives significant credibility for subsequent applications.
Estimate NASA-STD-6001B pass probability and testing cost for SUPERWOOD panels
Target Application
Fire Retardant Treatment
Estimated Pass Probability
56%
✗ Low confidence — reformulation recommended before testing
Required Tests — ISS Interior Non-Structural
Standard: NASA-STD-6001B defines flammability, offgassing, and odor requirements. All crewed spacecraft materials must pass applicable tests before a Materials Usage Agreement (MUA) can be filed.
First research grant for wood cellulose technology at UMD. Created transparent paper from wood fibers.
Invented see-through wood as alternative to glass. Developed wood that purifies water using sunlight. InventWood founded.
Published in Nature: Wood stronger than steel, 6x lighter. U.S. DOE ARPA-E OPEN award.
Engineered fire-resistant wood without toxic chemicals. Perfected transparent wood for buildings.
Created wood that bends like paper. Demonstrated >1 GPa strength — more than twice steel.
Awarded $20M DOE ARPA-E SCALEUP grant. Developed sound-absorbing, insulating wood.
Manufacturing facility in Maryland. Secured DARPA grant. 41 patents granted.
Series A funding ($15M). Commercial launch. Named Fast Company World Changing Ideas 2025.
90% Lower Carbon
90% lower carbon emissions than steel production
No Toxic Chemicals
No toxic chemicals in base process; optional waterproofing additives available
Carbon Sequestration
Locks carbon away for the building's lifetime and beyond
Sustainably Sourced
Made from fast-growing and underutilized wood species