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.

Methods for producing structural materials from lumber are provided. The methods use an oxygen pre-treatment or a carbonate pre-treatment followed by densification via thermal compression to produce structural materials with strong mechanical properties. The pre-treatments are able to partially delignify the lumber without substantially adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the subsequently densified wood.

Methods for producing structural materials from lumber are provided. The methods use an oxygen pre-treatment or a carbonate pre-treatment followed by densification via thermal compression to produce structural materials with strong mechanical properties. The pre-treatments are able to partially delignify the lumber without substantially adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the subsequently densified wood.

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.

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.

A method for preventing damage caused by a fire includes extinguishing the fire by applying a fireproof composition to the fire. The fireproof composition is constituted as an aqueous composition comprising at least one sugar and magnesium chloride (MgCl2). The fire can be a forest, domestic, or industrial fire. The composition can also be applied to protect a product against fire.

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.

A method for improving the fire resistance of a cellulose material comprises mixing boric acid with methanol to form a boric acid ester, combining the borate ester with magnesium sulfate to form a low viscosity magnesium borate sulfate solution, treating the cellulose material with the magnesium borate sulfate solution, and heating the treated cellulose material to evaporate remaining alcohol and solvent to form a crystals of a complex mixture containing combinations of magnesium sulfate, boric acid, magnesium borate, magnesium borate sulfate and their hydrates.

A method for improving the fire resistance of a cellulose material comprises mixing boric acid with methanol to form a boric acid ester, combining the borate ester with magnesium sulfate to form a low viscosity magnesium borate sulfate solution, treating the cellulose material with the magnesium borate sulfate solution, and heating the treated cellulose material to evaporate remaining alcohol and solvent to form a crystals of a complex mixture containing combinations of magnesium sulfate, boric acid, magnesium borate, magnesium borate sulfate and their hydrates.

A wood treatment method for reducing fungal growth utilizes a treatment solution comprising an aldehyde, a carrier solvent, an organic co-solvent, at least one surfactant, and at least one acid, base, or salt. In embodiments, the carrier solvent may comprise water and the organic co-solvent may comprise an alcohol or acetone. The aldehyde is impregnated into the wood, where it reacts with thiamine and other amino acids to promote cross-linking, reducing the porosity of the wood and thereby reducing the ability of various microbes and fungi to access the interior of the wood as a nutrient source.