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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Disclosed herein are methods of modifying properties of a cellulosic material, the method comprising: depositing an additive onto the cellulosic material, the additive being in a vapor phase and configured to modify one or more properties of the cellulosic material; and adsorbing the additive into the cellulosic material, wherein the additive reacts with one or more functional groups of the cellulosic material. The depositing can comprise an atomic layer deposition of the additive onto the cellulosic material. The additive can be configured to react with a nucleophile in the cellulosic material. The one or more properties of the cellulosic material can include: hydrophobicity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, fungo-toxicity, toxicity, wettability, tensile strength, corrosiveness, biodegradability, bio-toxicity, or swelling.

Disclosed herein are methods of modifying properties of a cellulosic material, the method comprising: depositing an additive onto the cellulosic material, the additive being in a vapor phase and configured to modify one or more properties of the cellulosic material; and adsorbing the additive into the cellulosic material, wherein the additive reacts with one or more functional groups of the cellulosic material. The depositing can comprise an atomic layer deposition of the additive onto the cellulosic material. The additive can be configured to react with a nucleophile in the cellulosic material. The one or more properties of the cellulosic material can include: hydrophobicity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, fungo-toxicity, toxicity, wettability, tensile strength, corrosiveness, biodegradability, bio-toxicity, or swelling.