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 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.

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.

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.

The present invention describes a method for thermo-treatment of wood, where said method comprises the following steps: a) selecting the wood to be as free from knots as possible b) introducing the wood to a temperature increase up to approximately 173° C.; c) maintaining the wood at an ambient temperature of 173° C. for 3-5 hours; d) decreasing the temperature to approx. 20° C.; e) introducing the wood into an autoclave wherein a mixture of linseed oil and mineral oil is applied to the wood, and allowing the mixture to penetrate the wood f) retrieving and storing the treated wood. Furthermore a timber member made with wood treated according to the method is disclosed.

The present invention describes a method for thermo-treatment of wood, where said method comprises the following steps: a) selecting the wood to be as free from knots as possible b) introducing the wood to a temperature increase up to approximately 173° C.; c) maintaining the wood at an ambient temperature of 173° C. for 3-5 hours; d) decreasing the temperature to approx. 20° C.; e) introducing the wood into an autoclave wherein a mixture of linseed oil and mineral oil is applied to the wood, and allowing the mixture to penetrate the wood f) retrieving and storing the treated wood. Furthermore a timber member made with wood treated according to the method is disclosed.

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 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 present disclosure describes 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 an olefin-carboxylic acid copolymer; and a modifying agent comprising a hydrophobic amine.

According to the present invention there is provided the use of one or more low aromatic or substantially low aromatic solvents as a carrier, for efficacious use within a preservative formulation for treating wood or other cellulosic species. The invention also provides for a wood preservative formulation comprising such a carrier. In an embodiment, the carrier is selected from the commercially-available range of Exxsol® D and Isopar® fluids.