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.

Provided is a wood preservation treatment liquid including: an organic solvent containing 1-chloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and a wood preservative.

A piece of natural fibrous plant material, such as wood or bamboo, can be infiltrated with a chemical solution and subsequently subjected to a temperature of at least 80? C. to produce a softened piece of fibrous plant material having modified lignin therein. The content of modified lignin in the softened piece can be at least 90% of the content of native lignin in the natural fibrous plant material. The modified lignin retained in the softened piece can have shorter macromolecular chains than that of the native lignin. The softened piece can be subjected to densification, for example, to yield a high-strength structural material, or to subsequent drying, for example, to yield a flexible or anisotropically-clastic material. The processing of the natural fibrous plant material can avoid, or at least reduce, the production of black liquor or other waste liquids.

A piece of natural fibrous plant material, such as wood or bamboo, can be infiltrated with a chemical solution and subsequently subjected to a temperature of at least 80? C. to produce a softened piece of fibrous plant material having modified lignin therein. The content of modified lignin in the softened piece can be at least 90% of the content of native lignin in the natural fibrous plant material. The modified lignin retained in the softened piece can have shorter macromolecular chains than that of the native lignin. The softened piece can be subjected to densification, for example, to yield a high-strength structural material, or to subsequent drying, for example, to yield a flexible or anisotropically-clastic material. The processing of the natural fibrous plant material can avoid, or at least reduce, the production of black liquor or other waste liquids.

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.

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.

A process is provided for treating wood products including lumber, plywood and other engineered wood products comprising the steps of applying an aqueous fire-retardant impregnate and applying a coating to the surface of the wood product. In one embodiment, said process confers fire-retardant properties to the wood products sufficient to pass the extended burn test of ASTM E-84. The present invention also provides fire retardant wood products.

A process is provided for treating wood products including lumber, plywood and other engineered wood products comprising the steps of applying an aqueous fire-retardant impregnate and applying a coating to the surface of the wood product. In one embodiment, said process confers fire-retardant properties to the wood products sufficient to pass the extended burn test of ASTM E-84. The present invention also provides fire retardant wood products.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods and systems for impregnating wood with a polymer solution and products thereof. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of processing a wood piece to generate a wood product, the method comprising: (a) placing the wood piece into a reactor having a chamber pressure of a vacuum environment; (b) exposing the wood piece to a polymer solution; (c) performing an iterative process where each cycle of the iterative process comprises a pressurizing period during which the chamber pressure is increased to an increased chamber pressure and a stabilizing period during which the chamber pressure is monitored to measure a chamber pressure decrease, if any; (d) when the decrease of chamber pressure during the stabilizing period is less than or equal to the certain threshold change, normalizing the reactor chamber to a normalized pressure; and (e) setting the wood piece to generate the wood product. The present disclosure further relates to a wood product generated by a method of processing a wood piece.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods and systems for impregnating wood with a polymer solution and products thereof. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of processing a wood piece to generate a wood product, the method comprising: (a) placing the wood piece into a reactor having a chamber pressure of a vacuum environment; (b) exposing the wood piece to a polymer solution; (c) performing an iterative process where each cycle of the iterative process comprises a pressurizing period during which the chamber pressure is increased to an increased chamber pressure and a stabilizing period during which the chamber pressure is monitored to measure a chamber pressure decrease, if any; (d) when the decrease of chamber pressure during the stabilizing period is less than or equal to the certain threshold change, normalizing the reactor chamber to a normalized pressure; and (e) setting the wood piece to generate the wood product. The present disclosure further relates to a wood product generated by a method of processing a wood piece.