Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating wood to give it a desirable color that is durable over time, while at the same time rendering the wood resistant to fungal decay and insect attack. The wood may be pressure treated in a two-step process whereby the wood is first treated with a wood preservation composition, and then treated with a composition comprising pigments, or vice versa. Alternatively, the wood may be simultaneously treated with a composition comprising a wood preservative and a composition comprising pigments.

A method (10) for ethanol-based extraction of soluble wood components. Wood is prepared (12), and chipped (18) to provide wood chips. The wood chips and a liquid are mixed (20) in a container to provide a mixture. After waiting (22) for a specified time, RF energy is applied (26) to the mixture while controlling (28) at least one an RF power level, a temperature of the mixture, a time of application of the RF energy, or a speed of a pump which is circulating the liquid in the mixture. The mixture is then cooled (30), the liquid and the components are removed (32) from the container, and are filtered (36) to provide a filtered extract. The wood may be heated (14) such as by charring and/or toasting before being chipped. Oxygen may be added (34) to the liquid and the components removed from the container before being filtered.

The present disclosure describes a treated cellulosic material comprising a cellulosic material having a porous structure defining a plurality of pores, at least a portion of the pores containing a treating agent comprising a polymer, the polymer comprising a polyurethane polymer. The present disclosure further describes a method for preparing a treated cellulosic material comprising providing a cellulosic material; and a first treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with an aqueous dispersion comprising a polymer, the polymer comprising a polyurethane polymer; and a second treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with a modifying agent, the modifying agent comprising a hydrophobic amine.

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.

This invention relates to a process for modifying wood. The process comprises treating the wood with an impregnating solution comprising an alkali metal (or alkaline earth metal) silicate, under conditions sufficient to impregnate the wood with one or more of the components of the impregnating solution. The process can comprise an optional second impregnation with a second impregnating solution. The process also comprises adding gaseous carbon dioxide to the treated wood, in the absence or presence of water, under pressure ranging from about 2 to about 12 bars, thereby lowering the pH of the treated wood to about 11 or below, to stabilize and/or fix the components of the impregnating solution in the wood. The process is green, non-toxic, and the resulting modified wood or wood product can be used across all primary construction and infrastructure applications.

The present description relates to processes, water-based wood treatment solutions and kits for treating wood substrates so as to obtain colored (or altered) wood substrates, where mineral compounds that impart the color or other desirable characteristic(s) to the wood substrates are formed in the colored or altered wood substrates. The mineral compounds formed comprise the products of a chemical reaction which occurs between the wood substrate, a metal salt, and an oxygen source.

A method for reinforcing and enhancing bamboo/wood materials employs a sulfuric acid hydrolysis method to prepare a nanocellulose dispersion solution; then with the nanocellulose dispersion solution having a certain concentration as a precursor, nano zinc oxide is in-situ produced on the surface of the nanocellulose; and the cellulose dispersion solution is improved by compounding. The obtained treatment solution is impregnated into the pores of bamboo/wood materials in a specific manner to play the role of filling, binding and consolidating the bamboo/wood tissues, so that the treated bamboo/wood materials have enhanced hardness, strength and dimension stability, and significantly-improved mildew- and corrosion-resistance. The method is suitable for the reinforcing and enhancing treatment of wood materials with relatively-loose texture, such as fast-growing wood and wood from a planted forest, and is also suitable for the reinforcement and restoration of slightly-rotten wood materials.

A process for treating lignocellulosic pieces with a water-soluble lignocellulosic material preservative. The process comprises the step of contacting the lignocellulosic pieces with a water-based preservative solution having a contact temperature between about 70 C. and about 95 C., the water-based preservative solution containing the water-soluble lignocellulosic material preservative in a concentration above about 25% wt. A lignocellulosic treatment apparatus for treating lignocellulosic pieces is also provided.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a modified wood product wherein the wood is treated with low-molecular weight resin based on lignin degradation products. The present invention also relates to a modified wood product produced using said process.

Methods for treating cellulosic materials comprising introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material, the treating composition comprising a solution prepared from at least: (i) one or more of a copper amine complex or copper ammine complex, such as copper tetraamine carbonate, (ii) one or more of ammonia or a water-soluble amine and (iii) water; and exposing the cellulosic material provided thereby to carbon dioxide and/or carbonic acid to provide treated cellulosic material, and treated cellulosic materials prepared thereby.