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.

The invention is a heating panel (10) for treating wood material (22), comprising two boundary members (12) arranged parallel to each other, and a heating wire (14) arranged between the boundary members (12).

The heating panel (10) is characterised in that the heating panel (10) further comprises a solidified wood treatment composition (16) arranged between the boundary members (12) and surrounding the heating wire (14), and the boundary members (12) are configured to allow the solidified wood treatment composition (16) to contact the wood material (22) to be treated.

The invention is furthermore a treatment apparatus (20), and a method for treating wood material (22).

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.

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 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.

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.