An essentially 100% solids, single-component, UV curable, low-viscosity, penetrating sealant composition for wood substrates and other porous substrates is prepared from an acrylate-methacrylate mixture, a functionalized resin, an unsaturated fatty acid triglyceride oil, and a photoinitiator. The sealant composition may further contain a metal catalyst, an amine synergist, fillers, pigments, dyes, flow and leveling additives, air release chemicals, UV absorbers, hindered amine light stabilizers, fungicides, insect repellents, and/or mold inhibitors. The sealant composition exhibits fast cure times along with resistance to degradation.

Systems and methods for treating wood products are provided. The methods comprise preconditioning the wood product by irradiating one or more surfaces of the wood product with infrared (IR) and/or ultraviolet (UV) radiation and subsequently treating the wood product. The systems comprise one or more fixtures positioned to irradiate one or more surfaces of the wood product with IR and/or UV radiation, wherein each fixture comprises a reflector and a radiation source.

Disclosed herein is a method of remediating chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated timber. Particularly, the method comprises contacting the CCA timber with an oxidative solvent and an acidic solvent which provides remediated timber and a variety of extracts containing amongst other things the metals of concern. One or more of the steps is conducted using continuous counter current extraction (CCE).

The disclosure relates to a method for continuous acetylation of wood elements. The acetylation is conducted with an acetylation medium at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg in a substantially oxygen free environment. Alternatively, the method includes the steps of: (a) feeding wood elements in a substantially oxygen free environment to a continuous acetylation reactor, and (b) treating the wood elements with an acetylation medium in the continuous acetylation reactor under wood acetylation reaction conditions, at a pressure of at least 1.5 barg. The process can acetylate wood elements to a high acetyl content in an efficient way, without compromising on the quality of the material. The acetylated wood elements can be used in the production of medium density fibreboards with superior qualities such as dimensional stability and durability.

An arrangement for feeding wood particles into an impregnating stage of a wood treatment process comprises a feed silo (301, 701), at least one impregnating vessel (305, 601, 602, 603, 703) for receiving wood particles into said impregnating stage, and two or more conveyors (302, 303, 304, 501, 502, 503, 702) between said feed silo (301, 701) and said at least one impregnating vessel (305, 601, 602, 603, 703), for transferring wood particles from said feed silo (301, 701) to said at least one impregnating vessel (305, 601, 602, 603, 703). Each of said conveyors (302, 303, 304, 501, 502, 503, 702) is a compressing conveyor for applying pressure to the wood particles on their way through the respective conveyor.

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 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.

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.

The invention concerns a process for treating lignocellulosic material, preferably wood, comprising the following successive steps: (1) extracting lignin by a fluid in supercritical or subcritical phase to extract 40 to 85% by weight % of the lignin of the initial material; (2) filling by a filling compound, preferably in the presence of a fluid in supercritical or subcritical phase; and (3) finishing, so as to obtain a composite material formed by a three-dimensional network of filling compound that is transformed and incorporated in a network of cellulose and lignin.