There are provided a resin composition that is suitable for the production of a flame-retardant molded article and that can provide high flame retardancy even with a small amount of flame retardant added, and a flame retardancy determination method for determining the flame retardancy of a resin composition. The resin composition of the present invention contains a thermoplastic resin, a cellulosic material, and a phosphate flame retardant and satisfies relational expressions (1) and (2) (where in expressions (1) and (2), T.sub.P, T.sub.B, and T.sub.CMP are temperatures at weight loss rate peaks in thermogravimetric analysis, T.sub.P is a temperature (° C.) at a weight loss rate peak of the thermoplastic resin, T.sub.B is a temperature (° C.) at a weight loss rate peak of the cellulosic material, and T.sub.CMP is a temperature (° C.) at a weight loss rate peak of the resin composition. When the resin composition has two weight loss rate peaks, T.sub.CMP is a temperature at a peak on a lower temperature side).

There are provided a resin composition that is suitable for the production of a flame-retardant molded article and that can provide high flame retardancy even with a small amount of flame retardant added, and a flame retardancy determination method for determining the flame retardancy of a resin composition. The resin composition of the present invention contains a thermoplastic resin, a cellulosic material, and a phosphate flame retardant and satisfies relational expressions (1) and (2) (where in expressions (1) and (2), T.sub.P, T.sub.B, and T.sub.CMP are temperatures at weight loss rate peaks in thermogravimetric analysis, T.sub.P is a temperature (° C.) at a weight loss rate peak of the thermoplastic resin, T.sub.B is a temperature (° C.) at a weight loss rate peak of the cellulosic material, and T.sub.CMP is a temperature (° C.) at a weight loss rate peak of the resin composition. When the resin composition has two weight loss rate peaks, T.sub.CMP is a temperature at a peak on a lower temperature side).

A method for producing a composite material comprises the following steps: comminuting wood elements into wood fragments; crushing the wood fragments; mixing the wood fragments with an adhesive agent and/or a bonding agent; and pressing the mixture of wood fragments and the adhesive agent and/or bonding agent.

A method for producing a composite material comprises the following steps: comminuting wood elements into wood fragments; crushing the wood fragments; mixing the wood fragments with an adhesive agent and/or a bonding agent; and pressing the mixture of wood fragments and the adhesive agent and/or bonding agent.

The invention is directed to a process for the continuous acetylation of wood elements. The process particularly combines a batchwise impregnation step, with a continuous reaction step. In order to realize this, a collection step is built-in, so as to allow batches of impregnated wood elements to be fed into a reactor in a continuous manner. Very high acetylation contents can be obtained, at a level that had not been achievable before in a continuous and non-catalyzed acetylation process.

The invention is directed to a process for the continuous acetylation of wood elements. The process particularly combines a batchwise impregnation step, with a continuous reaction step. In order to realize this, a collection step is built-in, so as to allow batches of impregnated wood elements to be fed into a reactor in a continuous manner. Very high acetylation contents can be obtained, at a level that had not been achievable before in a continuous and non-catalyzed acetylation process.

A process for the production of particle board, MDF board or HDF board includes the step of recycling particle board material, MDF and/or HDF board material in which recycled chips and/or recycled wood fibers are produced. The process includes the step in which the particle board material, the MDF and/or HDF board material is wetted, heated and pressurized, such that this material is kept under pressure and at an elevated temperature for a certain time. The process involves the step of supplying the recycled chips and/or the recycled wood fibers as base material in a production process of particle board, MDF board or HDF board.

A process for the production of particle board, MDF board or HDF board includes the step of recycling particle board material, MDF and/or HDF board material in which recycled chips and/or recycled wood fibers are produced. The process includes the step in which the particle board material, the MDF and/or HDF board material is wetted, heated and pressurized, such that this material is kept under pressure and at an elevated temperature for a certain time. The process involves the step of supplying the recycled chips and/or the recycled wood fibers as base material in a production process of particle board, MDF board or HDF board.

A polydiorganosiloxane is useful in a composition and a method for preparing a wood plastic composite article. The wood plastic composite article is useful as a building material. The polydiorganosiloxane may be added to the composition in liquid form or may form part of a solid carrier component used to make the wood plastic composite article.

A polydiorganosiloxane is useful in a composition and a method for preparing a wood plastic composite article. The wood plastic composite article is useful as a building material. The polydiorganosiloxane may be added to the composition in liquid form or may form part of a solid carrier component used to make the wood plastic composite article.