A wood preservative composition and a method of manufacturing a wood preservative composition that includes a copper containing biocide, a zinc containing biocide, a boron containing biocide, and an azole are provided. The wood preservative composition exhibits improved biocidal efficacy against copper tolerant fungi.

An aqueous orthosilicate solution comprising m[SiO4.sup.4?]+nX.sup.1+ in an aqueous solution wherein X is an alkali metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium or potassium; and wherein n is four to five times greater than m. The aqueous orthosilicate solution is made by adding silicon particles of less than about 3 cm and water to a pressure vessel followed by adding a molar excess of alkali caustic to the pressure vessel containing the silicon particles. The temperature in the vessel is maintained not to exceed about 190? F. while an aqueous orthosilicate solution is formed. Upon cooling the formed aqueous orthosilicate solution is recovery. Aluminum or CuO can be added during the initial heating.

An aqueous orthosilicate solution comprising m[SiO4.sup.4?]+nX.sup.1+ in an aqueous solution wherein X is an alkali metal cation selected from the group consisting of sodium or potassium; and wherein n is four to five times greater than m. The aqueous orthosilicate solution is made by adding silicon particles of less than about 3 cm and water to a pressure vessel followed by adding a molar excess of alkali caustic to the pressure vessel containing the silicon particles. The temperature in the vessel is maintained not to exceed about 190? F. while an aqueous orthosilicate solution is formed. Upon cooling the formed aqueous orthosilicate solution is recovery. Aluminum or CuO can be added during the initial heating.

Fire retardant paint compositions and coatings containing acrylic modified polysiloxane, polyphosphate salt, expandable graphite, and fire retardant additives are provided. The paint compositions find use in protecting a substrate against fire and exhibit excellent adhesion to substrates and long term weather resistance.

The current invention relates to fire retardant composition for natural fiber products, in particular wood or wood-based panels, said fire retardant composition comprising one or more fire retardants and monoethanolamine, wherein said fire retardants have a total concentration of at least 20.00 wt. % based on the total weight of the fire retardant composition, and wherein monoethanolamine and said fire retardant are present in the fire retardant composition in a weight ratio of between 1:5 and 1:50. Further aspects of the invention relate to the use of the fire retardant composition, and to natural fiber products comprising said fire retardant composition.

According to the present invention there is provided the use of one or more low aromatic or substantially low aromatic solvents as a carrier, for efficacious use within a preservative formulation for treating wood or other cellulosic species. The invention also provides for a wood preservative formulation comprising such a carrier. In an embodiment, the carrier is selected from the commercially-available range of Exxsol D and Isopar fluids.

According to the present invention there is provided the use of one or more low aromatic or substantially low aromatic solvents as a carrier, for efficacious use within a preservative formulation for treating wood or other cellulosic species. The invention also provides for a wood preservative formulation comprising such a carrier. In an embodiment, the carrier is selected from the commercially-available range of Exxsol D and Isopar fluids.

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.

The invention relates to the use of expanded graphite for reducing flammability and/or combustibility, in particular the use thereof as a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent, for materials and/or products which consist of or comprise wood fibers, cellulose fibers, wood powder, cellulose powder, wood granulates, cellulose granulates, and/or polyolefin-based materials. The invention further relates to materials and/or products which consist of or comprise wood fibers, cellulose fibers, wood powder, cellulose powder, wood granulates, cellulose granulates and/or polyolefin-based materials. In order to reduce the flammability and/or combustibility, expanded graphite is embedded into the materials and/or products, in particular in the form of a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent. The invention also relates to such an agent, in particular a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent, wherein expanded graphite is used alone or in combination with a boric acid/borax/alkali salt mixture. A particularly preferred area of use is binders, glues, and/or materials, products, and/or pre-products containing polyolefin-based materials in particular, preferably for damping (walls, floors, ceilings) and/or for floor and wall fittings. The invention is characterized by surprising advantages in fire protection tests with vertical edge flaming.

Open-architecture constituents, such as wood fibers, are coated with an intercalated functional material and bound together to form a solid product, such as a plank. Applications for this material include decking, fencing, and the like. The functional material is applied prior to forming the solid product, either as a coating on each fiber or inserted in a fiber or fiber cluster. As the constituents, such as fibers, wear during use of the product, the functional material is released to provide continual protection of the product, such as UV resistance and fungal resistance.