Naturally-occurring cellulose-based material, such as wood, bamboo, grass, or reed, can be subjected to one or more chemical treatments to remove at least some lignin therefrom. The resulting partially-delignified material can be partially dried or fully dried and then rehydrated to yield a moldable cellulose-based material. The moldable material can be formed from a substantially flat planar configuration into a non-planar three-dimensional configuration. Once formed into a desired configuration, the moldable material can be fully dried to set its shape, thereby forming a rigid molded piece. In some embodiments, the molded piece can be used as a structural material, for example, to form a load-bearing structure or part of a composite load-bearing structure.

The present invention relates to the creation of thermally insulating materials derived from cellulosic materials by selectively depolymerizing the materials anatomy. Cellulosic materials may be comprised of three main biopolymers: lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. The present invention relates to the chemical and physical removal of lignin and hemicellulose, while leaving the cellulose unaltered to induce increased porosity within the material and the material's macrostructure matrix for use as thermal and acoustic insulation. The increased porosity will be due to the creation of closed cell voids within the cellulosic matrix. These voids will increase the thermal and acoustic insulating performance of the cellulosic materials. The selective removal of secondary biopolymers from cellulosic materials allow for isolation of other value added products that can be regenerated through fewer reactions/steps. This is a novel advantage over other similar processes that dissolve cellulose completely, making it harder to extract and isolate secondary off-stream products.

A method for producing an ultra-stable and enhanced solid wood flooring for under-floor heating via surface compression technique includes: subjecting, while subjecting a solid wood to surface compression and enhancement, the solid wood to primary stabilization treatment by controlling a temperature of a hot pressing plate to obtain a compressed enhanced solid wood; putting the compressed enhanced solid wood into a heat treatment tank; and subjecting the compressed enhanced solid wood to secondary stabilization treatment by controlling a pressure and a temperature of steam or air in the heat treatment tank and a treatment time to obtain a finished product. The ultra-stable surface-compressed enhanced solid wood flooring produced by the method features high dimensional stability, low set-recovery after water absorption, and desired moisture and heat resistance.

A method for treating wood, is disclosed. The method includes developing a mud composite. The mud composite includes four parts mud. The mud composite includes three parts binder. The method includes mixing the mud composite until it reaches a creamy consistency. The method includes applying the mud composite to a wood fixture.

A wood heating system comprises an electric power source, a first electrode assembly, a second electrode assembly, and a control system. The first electrode assembly is connected to the electric power source and is adapted to make electrical contact with a first end of a wood length to apply electric power to the wood length. The first electrode assembly comprises at least two electrode segments. The second electrode assembly is adapted to make electrical contact with a second end of the wood length. The control system is adapted to selectively connect/disconnect electric power flow between the electric power source and at least one electrode segment of the first electrode assembly.

A method for producing an ultra-stable and enhanced solid wood flooring for under-floor heating via surface compression technique includes: subjecting, while subjecting a solid wood to surface compression and enhancement, the solid wood to primary stabilization treatment by controlling a temperature of a hot pressing plate to obtain a compressed enhanced solid wood; putting the compressed enhanced solid wood into a heat treatment tank; and subjecting the compressed enhanced solid wood to secondary stabilization treatment by controlling a pressure and a temperature of steam or air in the heat treatment tank and a treatment time to obtain a finished product. The ultra-stable surface-compressed enhanced solid wood flooring produced by the method features high dimensional stability, low set-recovery after water absorption, and desired moisture and heat resistance.

A method for producing an ultra-stable and enhanced solid wood flooring for under-floor heating via surface compression technique includes: subjecting, while subjecting a solid wood to surface compression and enhancement, the solid wood to primary stabilization treatment by controlling a temperature of a hot pressing plate to obtain a compressed enhanced solid wood; putting the compressed enhanced solid wood into a heat treatment tank; and subjecting the compressed enhanced solid wood to secondary stabilization treatment by controlling a pressure and a temperature of steam or air in the heat treatment tank and a treatment time to obtain a finished product. The ultra-stable surface-compressed enhanced solid wood flooring produced by the method features high dimensional stability, low set-recovery after water absorption, and desired moisture and heat resistance.

A method of producing a modified wood product is disclosed. The method comprises heating a resin impregnated wood product in a reactor, the resin impregnated wood product comprising source wood impregnated with a resin composition comprising resin, the heating being so as to substantially cure the resin, thereby to produce the modified wood product. The method comprises, during the heating of the resin impregnated wood product in the reactor, introducing water into the reactor. A reactor and a modified wood product are also disclosed.

A process for treating wood strands suitable for producing OSBs includes treating the wood strands in water at a temperature in the range from 50 C. to 100 C. The present invention likewise relates to a process for producing wood-based OSBs, in particular wood-based OSBs having reduced emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including: a) production of wood strands from suitable timbers; b) treatment of at least part of the wood strands with water; c) drying of the wood strands which have been treated with the water; d) coating of the wood strands which have been treated with water and dried and coating of wood strands which have not been treated with water with at least one binder; e) scattering of the glue-coated wood strands on a conveyor belt; and f) pressing of the glue-coated wood strands to give a wood-based OSB.

A process for treating wood strands suitable for producing OSBs includes treating the wood strands in water at a temperature in the range from 50 C. to 100 C. The present invention likewise relates to a process for producing wood-based OSBs, in particular wood-based OSBs having reduced emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including: a) production of wood strands from suitable timbers; b) treatment of at least part of the wood strands with water; c) drying of the wood strands which have been treated with the water; d) coating of the wood strands which have been treated with water and dried and coating of wood strands which have not been treated with water with at least one binder; e) scattering of the glue-coated wood strands on a conveyor belt; and f) pressing of the glue-coated wood strands to give a wood-based OSB.