Naturally-occurring cellulose-based material, such as wood, bamboo, grass, or reed, can be subjected to one or more chemical treatments to remove at least some lignin therefrom. The resulting partially-delignified material can be partially dried or fully dried and then rehydrated to yield a moldable cellulose-based material. The moldable material can be formed from a substantially flat planar configuration into a non-planar three-dimensional configuration. Once formed into a desired configuration, the moldable material can be fully dried to set its shape, thereby forming a rigid molded piece. In some embodiments, the molded piece can be used as a structural material, for example, to form a load-bearing structure or part of a composite load-bearing structure.

The present invention relates to the creation of thermally insulating materials derived from cellulosic materials by selectively depolymerizing the materials anatomy. Cellulosic materials may be comprised of three main biopolymers: lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. The present invention relates to the chemical and physical removal of lignin and hemicellulose, while leaving the cellulose unaltered to induce increased porosity within the material and the material's macrostructure matrix for use as thermal and acoustic insulation. The increased porosity will be due to the creation of closed cell voids within the cellulosic matrix. These voids will increase the thermal and acoustic insulating performance of the cellulosic materials. The selective removal of secondary biopolymers from cellulosic materials allow for isolation of other value added products that can be regenerated through fewer reactions/steps. This is a novel advantage over other similar processes that dissolve cellulose completely, making it harder to extract and isolate secondary off-stream products.

The current invention concerns a method for producing an aqueous dispersion suitable for being used as a flame retardant additive to wood composite panels. At least one pH-regulator, at least one inorganic thickener, and optionally at least one smoke suppressing agent is added to a premix while maintaining the actuation of wet-milling systems until the dispersion is obtained.

A process for producing a lignocellulose-containing, plastic-coated and printable molding (26), in particular in sheet form, comprising the steps of: a) producing a layer (A, B′) containing lignocellulose-containing particles according to the shape of the molding to be produced (26); b) applying a layer (C) of particles containing electron beam-reactive thermoplastic onto the layer produced according to the preceding feature; c) heating the layers (A, C) produced according to the preceding features such that thermoplastic particles melt into the layer containing lignocellulose-containing particles (Cs); d) pressing the layers heated according to feature (1c); and e) irradiating the layers pressed according to feature (1d) with electrons in the energy range from 1 MeV to 10 MeV. The process is for example elucidated with reference to an MDF sheet one-sidedly provided with a polymer layer.

A flexible structure is formed by subjecting cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes hemicellulose and lignin therefrom. The treated wood has a unique 3-D porous structure with numerous channels, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, and improved flexibility as compared to the natural wood. By further modifying the treated wood, the structure can be adapted to particular applications. For example, nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, or any other coating or material can be added to the treated wood to form a hybrid structure. In some embodiments, open lumina within the structure can be at least partially filled with a non-wood substance, such as a flexible polymer, or with entangled cellulose nanofibers. The unique architecture and superior properties of the flexible wood allow for its use in various applications, such as, but not limited to, structural materials, solar thermal devices, flexible electronics, tissue engineering, thermal management, and energy storage.

The invention relates to a process for forming a wood-base product comprising the steps of a) providing particles of wood, b) resinating the particles of wood with a binder, c) compressing the resinated particles of wood to form a wood-base product, wherein before, during or after step b) the particles of wood and/or the binder are brought into contact with a broken dispersion. The invention also relates to the use of a polyfunctional compound as demulsifier for breaking a wax-containing dispersion containing an aqueous phase as continuous phase, a disperse phase containing wax and at least one emulsifier. The invention further relates to a broken dispersion for hydrophobicizing lignocellulose-containing material, wherein the broken dispersion is obtainable by mixing at least mixed a wax-containing dispersion A) containing the following components: i) at least one aqueous phase as continuous phase, ii) at least one disperse phase containing wax, and iii) at least one emulsifier, with a demulsifier B) having at least one functional group. The invention additionally relates to a two-component system (kit-of-parts) containing at least two components A and B: a wax-containing dispersion A) containing at least one aqueous phase as continuous phase, at least one disperse phase containing wax, and at least one emulsifier, and a demulsifier B) having at least one functional group for breaking the wax-containing dispersion.

The invention relates to a process for treating a lignocellulosic material, preferably wood, comprising the following steps: (1) soaking of the material with organic fluid in order to dissolve at least 40% and at most 85%, in weight %, of the lignin of the material; (2) washing with organic fluid so as to discharge the dissolved lignin; (3) filling with a filling compound; and (4) finishing, so as to obtain a composite formed of a three-dimensional network of transformed filling compound incorporated into a cellulose and lignin network. The invention also relates to a composite structure able to be obtained in this way, and to any part comprising at least one such structure.

Methods and systems for treating wood byproducts, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a first quantity of wood byproducts in a first location; and (ii) exposing the first quantity of wood byproducts to ozone at a first concentration for a first time period, wherein the first concentration is configured to decrease the release of carbon monoxide from the first quantity of wood byproducts.

The invention relates to a method and devices for producing products (65) by using cellulose-containing particles, with which the following steps are carried out: a) irradiating the particles with electrons in the energy range >1 MeV: b) mixing the irradiated particles with electron-beam-reactive powder of a synthetic polymer, in particular a thermoplastic, having powder particle sizes <2000 micrometres and/or with a liquid electron-beam-reactive synthetic or bio-based polymer; c) forming the mixture created in a way corresponding to the form of the product to be produced, in particular forming it into a nonwoven (56): d) heating the formed mixture to 100-180° C.; e) pressing the formed mixture without heating; and f) irradiating the pressed mixture with electrons in the energy range of 1 MeV to 10 Me V and also with appropriately chosen dosages and dosing rates.

A layered material includes a first carrier material and a second carrier material. The first carrier material is coated or saturated with a modified bitumen. The modified bitumen is a bitumen to which is added an agent selected from a wax, a silicone oil, stearic acid, alkene ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and mixtures thereof. The first carrier material is continuously attached to the second carrier material.