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.

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.

A transparent wood comprising at least one polymer and a wood substrate comprising more than 15% lignin, measured as Klason lignin, and having an optical transmittance of at least 60%, as well as a method for its preparation.

A treatment process and wood products thereof including a product formulation of a single phase solution combining a wood preservative (durable component) with a Flame Retardant component (FR) to produce a durable Flame Retardant (dFR) treated wood product. The durable component comprises a range of copper based and non-copper based wood preservatives, while the FR component comprises alkali metal silicates and alkali metal aluminate compounds. The dFR working solution undergoes chemical impregnation (treatment) followed by a heat (fixation) process step that locks the chemical into the wood making it non-leachable. The dFR treated wood products are tested for their enhanced fire performance properties. When heated, wood undergoes thermal degradation and combustion producing gases, vapors, tars and chars. Using a cone calorimeter burn test method, dFR treated wood products show a significant reduction in heat release rate, mass loss rate and smoke generated values compared to untreated radiate pine.

The present disclosure relates to wood template-supported phase change material (PCM) composites having thermal energy storage applications. A wood template-supported PCM composite may include a wood template that has had at least a portion of its xylan and/or lignin removed and saturated with a PCM. The PCM may be stabilized with a cross linkable network for improved infiltration into the wood template. The wood template-supported PCM composite may be formed by extracting xylan and/or lignin from the wood to create a wood template, densifying at least a portion of the wood template, and inserting a PCM into the wood template.

Provided herein are compositions comprising wood and an inorganic magnetic material which is uniformly distributed throughout the wood, as well as methods of providing electromagnetic interference and/or shielding using the compositions (e.g., for use in construction, defense information security, and aerospace applications). Also provided herein is a process for preparing the compositions.

Provided herein are compositions comprising wood and an inorganic magnetic material which is uniformly distributed throughout the wood, as well as methods of providing electromagnetic interference and/or shielding using the compositions (e.g., for use in construction, defense information security, and aerospace applications). Also provided herein is a process for preparing the compositions.

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.

A flame retardant treatment of a lignocellulosic material, which includes: optionally steam exploding the lignocellulosic material, impregnating the optionally steam-exploded lignocellulosic material, in or with an aqueous solution, from 0.5% to 10% of phytic acid and from 1% to 30% of urea, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, optionally drying of the impregnated lignocellulosic material, until the impregnated lignocellulosic material has a moisture content from 5% to 20% by weight, cooking the impregnated and optionally dried lignocellulosic material, the resulting flame-retarded lignocellulosic material including a phosphorous content originating from the phytic acid from 0.1% to 10% by weight. Also, the resulting flame-retarded lignocellulosic material and the use thereof for manufacturing flame-retarded composite materials based on plant fibres, woven or nonwoven flame-retarded flexible materials based on plant fibres, and particularly textiles, flame-retarded materials based on wood fibres and/or on wood particles, and particularly flame-retarded wood panels.