Optimization of delignification process for efficient preparation of transparent wood with high strength and high transmittance

Transparent wood is an environmentally friendly material that could be used as building materials or substrates for solar cells to reduced electrical energy consumption. Many problems remain in the delignification process, such as energy consumption and gas pollution. In this paper, the optimum conditions for two stage delignification of low density balsa wood (Ochroma pyramidale) and high density of basswood (Tilia tuan) were studied. The optimized single layer transparent wood was laminated to produce transparent wood with high thickness. The results showed that the lamination method cut the delignification time in half and improved the dimensional stability of the transparent wood. Optical testing showed that the maximum transmittance of the same direction laminated transparent wood was similar to the single layer transparent wood with the same thickness. The mechanical experiments showed that the transparent basswood had a better tensile strength, which reached 75.12 MPa. Optimizing the process of the transparent wood could greatly reduce the preparation time and the energy consumption, so that mass production of enterprises could become a reality.