A delignified wood material is formed by removing substantially all of the lignin from natural wood. The resulting delignified wood retains cellulose-based lumina of the natural wood, with nanofibers of the cellulose microfibrils being substantially aligned along a common direction. The unique microstructure and composition of the delignified wood can provide advantageous thermal insulation and mechanical properties, among other advantages described herein. The thermal and mechanical properties of the delignified wood material can be tailored by pressing or densifying the delignified wood, with increased densification yielding improved strength and thermal conductivity. The chemical composition of the delignified wood also offers unique optical properties that enable passive cooling under solar illumination.

A method of treating an elongate wood member is provided, the wood member having an outer surface and a cross-section. The method includes (1) forming a plurality of holes into the outer surface of the wood member; (2) introducing a treatment composition which includes a boron-containing compound into the plurality of holes; and (3) steam treating the wood member for a duration of from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours, the steam having a temperature of from about 80 C. to about 150 C. The steam treatment causes the boron-containing compound to diffuse from the formed holes into the cross-section of the wood member.

An aqueous boric acid dispersion includes boric acid particles having a median particle size range of less than 44 microns and a solids content of boric acid particles of 50% or greater. The boric acid dispersion also includes an effective amount of at least one viscosity reducing agent such that the boric acid dispersion has an initial Brookfield 2 rpm static viscosity of about 5,000 to about 25,000 centipoise and a three week aged Brookfield 2 rpm static viscosity of less than 250,000 centipoise, an optional amount of an alkali metal base, wherein the alkali metal base/boric acid mole ratio in the boric acid dispersion ranges from zero to about 0.01; and the balance water. The boric acid dispersion can be used in the manufacture of wood products like oriented strand board, medium density fiberboard, and particle board as well as to coat wood products to improve their fire retardancy.

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 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 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.

An invention relates to thermal or thermomechanical processing of hygroscopic material to adjust the material properties. The invention concerns a modification arrangement for the hygroscopic material. The modification arrangement comprises a modification unit (202) and a fluid container (204) that is coupled with a control valve (205) to at least one fluid aperture (203). The modification arrangement is configured for heating the hygroscopic material in the modification unit (202) to extract water from it and, in response to opening of the control valve (205), leading fluid from the fluid container through said at least one fluid aperture (203) into the modification unit (202). The modification arrangement further comprises a treatment agent (207) added to the fluid so that the treatment agent (207) is absorbed into the hygroscopic material and modifies it. The treatment agent (207) includes at least one of the following ingredients: a preservative, a dye, a pigment, an aroma, an odour eliminator, a pesticide, an impregnation ingredient, or a fire retardant.

To provide a board material processing composition allowing for production of a board material laminate that is non-combustible and is excellent in adhesion performance. In order to solve this problem, a board material processing composition inhibiting combustion of a board material due to heating, comprises: a carbonization promotion component, being inorganic, promoting carbonization of an organic component within the board material at the heating; a chain inhibition component, being inorganic, inhibiting a reaction chain to a neighboring component due to a product of endothermic decomposition generated at the heating; and binder particles, being inorganic and hydrophobic, bonding the organic component within the board material to the carbonization promotion component and the chain inhibition component, wherein the carbonization promotion component includes boric acid, the chain inhibition component includes ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, and the binder particles include silica sand.

A delignified wood material is formed by removing substantially all of the lignin from natural wood. The resulting delignified wood retains cellulose-based lumina of the natural wood, with nanofibers of the cellulose microfibrils being substantially aligned along a common direction. The unique microstructure and composition of the delignified wood can provide advantageous thermal insulation and mechanical properties, among other advantages described herein. The thermal and mechanical properties of the delignified wood material can be tailored by pressing or densifying the delignified wood, with increased densification yielding improved strength and thermal conductivity. The chemical composition of the delignified wood also offers unique optical properties that enable passive cooling under solar illumination.

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.