An object of the present invention is to provide a flame-retardant woody material having low hygroscopicity and excellent flame-retardant performance, and a flame retardant for woody materials therefor. The present invention relates to a flame retardant for woody materials comprising an organic phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (1) and a nitrogen compound represented by the following formula (2); and also relates to a flame-retardant woody material comprising a woody material fireproofed with the flame retardant for woody materials: ##STR00001## wherein in the formula (1), R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, hydroxy, or the like; n is an integer of 1 to 4; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, hydroxy, or the like; and ##STR00002## wherein in the formula (2), R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, and R.sub.7 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, methyl, or the like.

A synergistic aqueous wood preservative composition comprising a copper compound and penflufen. The copper compounds of the compositions of the invention may be soluble, partially solubilized or micronized particles. The penflufen of the compositions of the invention may be solubilized, emulsified or particulate. The wood preservative compositions of the present invention are surprisingly provided as stable dispersions and confer surprising and unexpected resistance to treated wood and wood products.

A wood treatment device may include a container and a closure assembly. The container may include an elongate body with an open end and having an internal expanse for holding a wood-treatment agent in fluid communication with the open end. The closure assembly may be configured, when positioned at the container open end, to close at least partially the open end. The closure assembly may include a release unit having an inner face exposed to the internal expanse and an outer face facing away from the internal expanse. The release unit may be configured to impede passage of the wood-treatment agent through the release unit. In some examples, an adapter may extending distally of the container and have an exposed surface facing the container and defining an opening configured to allow a foot of a manipulation tool to be moved through the opening and pivoted laterally to engage the adapter.

Method of treating wood products to improve fire resistance thereof. The method comprises treating wet wood objects with compositions comprising an aqueous solution of bisphosphonate selected from 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonic acid, an alkanol amine, and optionally an alkaline agent, the composition having a pH in the range of 4.0 to 7.0 to impregnate the object with the compositions, and subjecting the object so obtained to drying to achieve aspiration of the pits of the wood object. The method can be used for protecting wood not only against fire but also against mould, rot, blue stain, insect such as termite attacks on wood, dimensional changes, or a combination thereof due to environmental influence.

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 wood treatment device may include a container and a closure assembly. The container may include an elongate body with an open end and having an internal expanse for holding a wood-treatment agent in fluid communication with the open end. The closure assembly may be configured, when positioned at the container open end, to close at least partially the open end. The closure assembly may include a release unit having an inner face exposed to the internal expanse and an outer face facing away from the internal expanse. The release unit may be configured to impede passage of the wood-treatment agent through the release unit. In some examples, an adapter may extending distally of the container and have an exposed surface facing the container and defining an opening configured to allow a foot of a manipulation tool to be moved through the opening and pivoted laterally to engage the adapter.

A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

A super strong and tough densified wood structure is formed by subjecting a cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes lignin therefrom. The treated wood retains lumina of the natural wood, with cellulose nanofibers of cell walls being aligned. The treated wood is then pressed in a direction crossing the direction in which the lumina extend, such that the lumina collapse and any residual fluid within the wood is removed. As a result, the cell walls become entangled and hydrogen bonds are formed between adjacent cellulose nanofibers, thereby improving the strength and toughness of the wood among other mechanical properties. By further modifying, manipulating, or machining the densified wood, it can be adapted to various applications.

Disclosed is a flame retardant for woody materials comprising an organic phosphorus compound represented by formula (1) and a nitrogen compound represented by formula (2); and also relates to a flame-retardant woody material comprising a woody material fireproofed with the flame retardant for woody materials:

##STR00001## wherein in formula (1), R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, hydroxy, or the like; n is an integer of 1 to 4; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, hydroxy, or the like; and

##STR00002## wherein in formula (2), R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, R.sub.6, and R.sub.7 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, methyl, or the like.

Disclosed herein are methods of modifying properties of a cellulosic material, the method comprising: depositing an additive onto the cellulosic material, the additive being in a vapor phase and configured to modify one or more properties of the cellulosic material; and adsorbing the additive into the cellulosic material, wherein the additive reacts with one or more functional groups of the cellulosic material. The depositing can comprise an atomic layer deposition of the additive onto the cellulosic material. The additive can be configured to react with a nucleophile in the cellulosic material. The one or more properties of the cellulosic material can include: hydrophobicity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, fungo-toxicity, toxicity, wettability, tensile strength, corrosiveness, biodegradability, bio-toxicity, or swelling.