Transparent wood as clear as glass 透明木材

张小琴

你能想象木頭比玻璃更适合做窗户的材料吗？美国科学家最新研发的透明木材不但透明度可以媲美玻璃，而且比玻璃锁热能力更强、更环保、更耐用、更安全，也更轻。

Scientists have designed transparent wood that could replace conventional glass in windows. The innovation was developed using wood from the balsa（轻木） tree， which is native to South and Central America， and claims to be five times more thermally efficient than glass.

The team treated balsa wood in an oxidizing bath that bleaches it off nearly all visibility and then penetrated it with a synthetic polymer called polyvinyl alcohol （PVA）—creating a product that is virtually transparent.

Unlike traditional glass， the transparent wood can withstand much stronger impacts and will bend when damaged， instead of shattering.

The transparent wood was created by teams at the University of Maryland and University of Colorado， which set out to find a greener alternative to conventional glass—a product that creates 25，000 tons emissions each year.

Along with contributing to greenhouse gases， glass contributes to a loss of energy.

“Residential building windows in particular account for 10%?20% of the heat loss due to their poor thermal management capability，” the team wrote in the study.

“Exploring energy efficient window materials is thus highly desirable to address heating costs， energy shortages， and the global impact of climate change associated with increased carbon emissions.”

The team notes that the bonding between PVA and cellulose in the wood， creates a tightly packed structure that allows for more thermal protection and makes it more durable and lighter than glass.

“Switching to transparent wood could prove to be cost?efficient as well，” researchers shared in a statement.

“It is approximately five times more thermally efficient than glass， cutting energy costs.”

“It is made from a sustainable and renewable resource with low carbon emissions. Its also compatible with existing industrial processing equipment， making the transition to manufacturing an easy prospect.”

Reading Check

1. Whats the main advantage of the transparent wood according to paragraph 1？

A. It can withstand much stronger impacts.

B. It can be five times more thermally efficient than glass.

C. It will bend when damaged.

D. It will restore itself when damaged.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us？

A. How to create transparent wood.

B. The team treated balsa wood in liquid.

C. A synthetic polymer called PVA.

D. A product that is transparent.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph？

A. Transparent wood is being accepted by more people.

B. Transparent wood will be easily produced.

C. Transparent wood is made from a sustainable resource.

D. Transparent wood will be widely used soon.

Languag Study

木頭都能像玻璃一样透明了，还有什么是不可能的？无限可能从科技创新开始。

Complete the passage using a proper word or the proper form of the given words.

Amazing！ Wood from the balsa tree， 1. ________  is native to South and Central America， could replace conventional glass in windows. It is called transparent wood.

2.  ________  （like） traditional glass， the transparent wood can withstand much 3.  ________   （strong） impacts and will bend when 4.   ________  （damage）， instead of shattering. 5. ________ （create） by teams at the University of Maryland and University of Colorado， the transparent wood is a greener alternative to conventional glass—6.  ________  product that creates 25，000 tons emissions each year. Switching 7. ________ transparent wood could prove to be cost?efficient.