A review on recent developments in transparent wood: sustainable alternative to glass

Glass is transparent, durable, chemically inert, readily available, and cheap, has numerous applications in the building and construction sector, automobile sector, and optical fibers. However, glass production is not a sustainable process due to high energy requirements and associated carbon emissions. Due to the significant disadvantages and the need for sustainable production, bio-based alternative materials are the need of the hour. Transparent wood is an alternative that can replace glass. Transparent wood has a renewable origin, low energy requirements, and excellent optical and mechanical properties, especially the shatterproof behaviour. The fabrication of wood is a comparatively green process as compared to that of glass. This review paper highlights different routes of transparent wood fabrication with insights into the polymers used for infiltration into transparent wood. Good optical properties along with better mechanical properties and low thermal conductivity, low density as compared to glass, and an improved scope of multi-functionalisation have been observed for transparent wood. Studies have shown a need for a green, energy-efficient, and scalable process for the mass production of transparent wood. The key questions and areas that need to be worked upon have also been discussed. The review indicates that a systematic research approach is necessary for the overall development of the field from a research and industrial point of view.