A Natural Lignification Inspired Super-Hard Wood-based Composites with Extreme Resilience

The growing demand for high-strength, durable materials capable of enduring extreme environments presents a significant challenge, particularly in balancing performance with sustainability. Conventional materials such as alloys and ceramics are nonrenewable, expensive, and require energy-intensive production processes. Here, super-hard wood-based composites (WBC) inspired by the meso-scale homogeneous lignification process intrinsic to tree growth are designed and developed. This hybrid structure is achieved innovatively by leveraging the infusion of low-molecular-weight phenol formaldehyde resin into the cell walls of thin wood slices, followed by a unique multi-layer construction and high-temperature compression. The resulting composite exhibits remarkable properties, including a Janka hardness of 24 382 N and a Brinell hardness of 40.7 HB, along with exceptional antipiercing performance. The created super-hard, sustainable materials address the limitations of nonrenewable resources while providing enhanced protection, structural stability, and exceptional resilience. The WBC approach aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by offering extra values for improving personal safety and building integrity across various engineering applications.