The present invention relates to combinations of zinc pyrithione and food-approved antimicrobials which provide a synergistic antimicrobial effect. The food approved antimicrobials are selected from sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, potassium sulfite, calcium sulfite, calcium hydrogen sulfite, potassium hydrogen sulfite, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and lysozyme. These combinations are useful for the protection of any living or non-living material, such as food, crops, plants, fruits, wood, wood products, leather, natural or synthetic textile, fibers, non-wovens, technical textile, plasticized materials and non-plasticized thermoplastics as polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, etc. . . . , paper, wall paper, insulation material, laminates, amino moulding compounds, paints and coatings, fabrics, floor coverings, synthetic fibres like plasticized polymers, hessian, rope and cordage and other biodegradable materials against deterioration due to the action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, and the like. Also, the present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of zinc pyrithione and said food-approved antimicrobials; in respective proportions to provide a synergistic antimicrobial effect.

The present invention describes a process of improving the dimensional stability of wood and a dimensionally stable wood thereof. The said process is governed by contacting a composition comprising resin, catalyst and dye with a wood in a closed container followed by evacuating the air from the chamber and creating a vacuum. It is further treated with a composition comprising resin and dye followed by vacuum treatment during the contact step for at least 2 hours followed by a resting period and further treated in a temperature of approximately 100 degrees Celsius for about 1 hour and 30 minutes in order to obtain the desired wood.

A composition for treating cellulosic materials is provided. The composition comprises a dispersion of micronized additives. The dispersion comprises additive particles with diameters in the range of 0.001 to 25 microns. Also provided is a method for the application of the additive-containing composition to wood, as well as wood products which have been treated with the composition.

A flexible structure is formed by subjecting cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes hemicellulose and lignin therefrom. The treated wood has a unique 3-D porous structure with numerous channels, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, and improved flexibility as compared to the natural wood. By further modifying the treated wood, the structure can be adapted to particular applications. For example, nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, or any other coating or material can be added to the treated wood to form a hybrid structure. In some embodiments, open lumina within the structure can be at least partially filled with a non-wood substance, such as a flexible polymer, or with entangled cellulose nanofibers. The unique architecture and superior properties of the flexible wood allow for its use in various applications, such as, but not limited to, structural materials, solar thermal devices, flexible electronics, tissue engineering, thermal management, and energy storage.

The present disclosure is directed to compositions including a microemulsion comprising a blend of lecithin, a co-surfactant and a salt of an acidifier, an ester of an acidifier, or combinations thereof. Uses of the compositions are also disclosed.

Described herein are putty compositions comprising: an initiator component comprising a thermal initiator and a photo initiator; an acrylate-functional resin; and a filler composition comprising: calcium carbonate particles; and glidant particles; wherein the calcium carbonate particles and the glidant particles are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 4:1 to about 1:1.

A method for treating a piece of wood impregnates the piece of wood with a water repellent, wherein the water repellent is solid at ambient temperatures. The method includes the steps of providing a piece of wood to be treated; heating the piece of wood for a predetermined period of time, the piece of wood being heated at a temperature A; subsequently immersing at least a portion of the piece of wood in a bath of liquefied water repellent, the bath being at a temperature B, for a predetermined period of time. Thereafter the piece of wood is removed from the bath and allowed to cool. The temperature A is above 100 C. and the temperature B is below 100 C. but above a liquefying point for the water repellent, and a differential between temperatures A and B is at least 60 C.

A process is provided for treating wood products including lumber, plywood and other engineered wood products comprising the steps of applying an aqueous fire-retardant impregnate and applying a coating to the surface of the wood product. In one embodiment, said process confers fire-retardant properties to the wood products sufficient to pass the extended burn test of ASTM E-84. The present invention also provides fire retardant wood products.

Disclosed are novel metallic nanoparticles coated with a thin protective carbon shell, and three-dimensional nano-metallic sponges; methods of preparation of the nanoparticles; and uses for these novel materials, including wood preservation, strengthening of polymer and fiber/polymer building materials, and catalysis.

The present invention relates to an outdoor bamboo floor and a manufacturing method thereof, in particular, to an outdoor bamboo floor subjected to an immersion treatment using hot oil. Conduits or other capillary structures of a bamboo material in the outdoor bamboo floor of the present invention are filled with an oil medium, with an oil content of 2-10%. The manufacturing method includes immersing a plate blank of the bamboo floor in a hydrophobic organic medium at 100-300 C. for 1-10h, and are statically cooled down to a room temperature after being taken out.