Disclosed herein is an environmentally friendly wood protecting method against biological deterioration such as fungal, bacterial and insect damage and non-biological wood deterioration such as weathering. The method comprises contacting a wood material with an aqueous solution of a zirconium salts which is followed by a heat treatment step, providing durable protection of wood against biodegradation and improving several other properties of the treated wood.

A protectant and sealant solution and method of use thereof, configured to protect wood from premature decay when disposed in contact with the earth. The solution is composed of processed hemp oil which is mixed with bio-diesel and other oils to form the protectant solution. The wood is then impregnated with the solution via pressure treatment within a retort cylinder. The solution is configured to protect utility poles and other wooden construction members which are known for prolonged contact with soil. The solution is designed as a safe replacement for pentachlorophenol solutions which have been found to be harmful to the soil and water table.

The invention relates to a microemulsion comprising water in an amount of 1-30 w %; sodium or potassium oleate, Na/K salts of tall oil fatty acid, and/or Na/K salts of C16-C18 saturated or unsaturated fatty acids in an amount of 10-40 w %; oleic acid, tall oil fatty acid, or C16-C18 saturated or unsaturated fatty acids in an amount of 2-40 w %; ethanol in an amount of 0-40 w %; glycerol in an amount of 5-40 w %; and liquid hydrocarbon(s) in an amount of 5-40 w %, up to a maximum or total of components parts of 100 w %. Moreover, methods of manufacture and uses of the microemulsion are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of impregnated wood pieces for use in pencil production, and pencils with shafts including such impregnated wood pieces, wherein the process comprises two process stages, namely a) a first process stage, comprising a first impregnation step, in which an untreated wood piece is at least partially, impregnated with a first aqueous impregnating solution of an impregnating agent selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea or a derivative or modification thereof, and a catalyst, and a subsequent curing step, in which the impregnated wood piece is cured in a hot steam atmosphere at an elevated temperature above 100° C., and b) a second process stage comprising a second impregnation step, whereby the impregnated, cured wood piece is at least partially impregnated with a second aqueous impregnating solution of a wax emulsion paraffin based as an impregnating agent.

A method of preparing a fiberboard is described herein, the method comprising treating a particulate plant-derived material with plasma to obtain a plasma-treated particulate material, and compressing the plasma-treated particulate material. Further described herein is a fiberboard comprising a particulate plant-derived material, and being substantially devoid of an adhesive, or substantially devoid of an adhesive which is urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, and/or phenol formaldehyde resin. The fiberboard may be characterized by a density of less than 500 kg/m.sup.3, a particulate plant-derived material particle area of at least 1 mm.sup.2, and/or a particulate plant-derived material water contact angle of no more than 20°.

Each of a set of knitting needles have a length correlated to at least two factors (e.g., needle diameter, and yarn weight) to provide appropriate strength, stability, and suitable take-up for stitches created during the knitting process. The correlation is such that as needle diameters (D) grow, and/or the yarn weight increases, the needle length grows in a particular relation, as follows: $L=\frac{\left(W+2\right)\left(15D+15\right)}{\left(\mathrm{.4}W+2\right)\left(\mathrm{.9}D+5\right)}$
where “L” is the length of the needle, “D” is the needle diameter, and “W” is the yarn weight from 0 to 7 (i.e., lace=0, super fine=1, fine=2, light=3, medium=4, bulky=5, super bulky=6, and jumbo=7). Raw wood for the needle is stabilized in a process including application of a composition that is maintained thereon for a period of time and in a vacuum, and heat treatment.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a densified wood article comprising vacuum impregnating a porous low-density type of wood with a specified aqueous phenolformaldehyde resin composition and pressing. The invention also relates to a densified wood article obtainable by the process having a low set-recovery. The invention further relates to the use of an aqueous phenol-formaldehyde resin composition for impregnation of wood for impregnating wood in a process for the manufacture of densified wood articles and to the use densified wood articles in high value-added applications like flooring or furniture and for machine tooling applications.

A wood chip material, especially a fireproof water resistant wood chip material, especially a fireproof water resistant wood chip material to make oriented strand boards which consists of a mixture containing 30 to 43 weight percent of wood chips, 53 to 61.9 weight percent of an aqueous solution of silicate, 2 to 5 weight percent of aluminium hydroxide, 1 to 3 weight percent of water, 0.1 to 1 weight percent of a stabilizer of the aqueous solution of silicate, and a hardener of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate in the concentration of 0.5 to 5 weight percent to the pure aqueous solution of sodium silicate providing always that the density of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate ranges from 1370 to 1400 kg/m.sup.3 and the SiO.sub.2 to NA.sub.2O molar ratio in the aqueous solution of sodium silicate ranges from 3.2 to 3.4. A method of production of a wood chip material, especially method of production of a fireproof water resistant wood chip material, especially method of production of a fireproof water resistant wood chip material to make oriented strand boards according to which, as the first step, the aluminium hydroxide is mixed with water, then wood chips are added into the mixture and everything is stirred thoroughly in such a manner that a wood chip mixture is formed, then the stabilizer of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate is added in the aqueous solution of silicate and after that the hardener of the aqueous solution of sodium silicate is admixed in this solution. Then the solution is stirred for 1 to 10 minutes until a binding solution is formed. Then the wood chip mixture is poured, at continuous stirring, in the binding solution and everything is stirred thoroughly again. Then the resulting mixture is poured in the place of application.

A treated cellulosic material comprising a cellulosic material having a porous structure defining a plurality of pores, at least a portion of the pores containing a treating agent comprising a polymer comprising a poly(meth)acrylate polymer. The present further describes a method for preparing a treated cellulosic material comprising (a) providing a cellulosic material; and (b) a first treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with an aqueous dispersion comprising a polymer, the polymer comprising a poly(meth)acrylate polymer.

A treated cellulosic material comprising a cellulosic material having a porous structure defining a plurality of pores, at least a portion of the pores containing a treating agent comprising a polymer comprising a modified cellulose polymer; and a modifying agent comprising a hydrophobic amine, a metal ion, or a quat. The present disclosure further describes a method for preparing a treated cellulosic material comprising (a) providing a cellulosic material; (b) a first treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with a dispersion comprising a polymer, the polymer comprising a modified cellulose polymer; and (c) a second treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with a modifying agent, the modifying agent comprising a hydrophobic amine, a metal ion, or a quat.