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Composition of wood
Microscopical and molecular composition
Wood is a composite material from a microscopical point of view and it is made of cellulose microfibres (see schemes/pictures below) plunged in an amorphous polymer mass made by lignin and hemicellulose.
Cellulose microfibres comprises the 45% of the cellular material, the amorphous mass is the 40% and the rest is made of a water solution with oils and salts.
Using a combination of wood, bones and “animal glues” the Mongols of Gengis Khan could build in 1200 composite arches, which had been considered the most dangerous weapon on earth before the invention of the gunpowder.