Process of Improving the Dimensional Stability of Wood and Dimensional Stabile Wood Thereof

Abstract

The present invention describes a process of improving the dimensional stability of wood and a dimensionally stable wood thereof. The said process is governed by contacting a composition comprising resin, catalyst and dye with a wood in a closed container followed by evacuating the air from the chamber and creating a vacuum. It is further treated with a composition comprising resin and dye followed by vacuum treatment during the contact step for at least 2 hours followed by a resting period and further treated in a temperature of approximately 100 degrees Celsius for about 1 hour and 30 minutes in order to obtain the desired wood.

Claims

1. A process of improving the dimensional stability of wood, wherein the said process comprising the steps of a) contacting a composition comprising resin, catalyst and dye with a wood in a closed container; b) applying vacuum treatment to the wood of step (a) during the contact step for at least 2 hours; c) resting the wood of step (b) at a room temperature for at least 48 hours; d) contacting the wood of step (c) with the composition comprising resin and dye followed by vacuum treatment during the contact step for at least 2 hours; e) resting the wood of step (d) at a room temperature for at least 24 hours; f) treating the said wood of step (e) with heat of at least 100 degree Celsius for approximately 1 hrs 30 minutes followed by gradually decreasing of heat for about 6 hours in order to obtain the desired wood of improved dimensional stability; wherein the said wood has a size at least 1.5 mm diameter greater than the diameter of the wood used in step (a).

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalyst to the Resin is in the range of 2.1 gm/lit to 2.3 gm/lit.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said resin preferably used is Resinol 90C.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dye used is selected from the group of oil soluble dyes.

5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dye used is selected as per the shade of the wood is desired.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat is produced by the oven, electric tandoor, microwave oven etc.

7. A dimensionally stable wood, characterized in that the process according to claims 1-8 prepared by any one of the claim.

8. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said resin preferably used is Resinol 90C

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing FIGURE wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a process of improving the dimensional stability of wood in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] The above summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Accordingly, the present invention provides a process of improving the dimensional stability of wood, wherein the said process comprising the steps of: [0027] a) contacting a composition comprising resin, catalyst and dye with a wood in a closed container; [0028] b) applying vacuum treatment to the wood of step (a) during the contact step for at least 2 hours; [0029] c) resting the wood of step (b) at a room temperature for at least 48 hours; [0030] d) contacting the wood of step (c) with the composition comprising resin and dye followed h vacuum treatment during the contact step for at least 2 hours; [0031] e) resting the wood of step (d) at a room temperature for at least 24 hours; [0032] f) treating the said wood of step (e) with heat of at least 100 degree Celsius for approximately 1 hrs 30 minutes followed by gradually decreasing of heat for about 6 hours in order to obtain the desired wood of improved dimensional stability; wherein the said wood has a size at least 1.5 mm diameter greater than the diameter of the wood used in step (a).

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the catalyst used to the Resin is in the range of 2.1 gm/lit to 2.3 gm/lit.

[0034] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the resin preferably used is Resinol 90C.

[0035] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the dye used is selected from the group of oil solubles dyes.

[0036] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the dye used is selected as per the shade of the wood is desired.

[0037] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the heat is produced by the oven, electric tandoor, microwave oven etc.

[0038] The present invention also provides a dimensionally stable wood prepared by the above process.

[0039] The following describes example embodiments of the present invention and any alternatives or embodiments not specifically disclosed herein, but as may be obvious to persons skilled in the art, are encompassed by this disclosure, and fall within the scope of this invention.

[0040] The method of stabilization of wood, in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention is described hereafter. The wood to be stabilized in the form of a plank, slate, board or the like is placed inside the stabilizing chamber. The invention encompasses stabilizing any form of wood, in any shape that is capable of being placed inside the stabilizing chamber.

[0041] Subsequently, the stabilizing chamber is then filled with one or more stabilizing materials, such that it partially or wholly covers said wooden plank.

[0042] The invention encompasses using stabilizing materials such as one or more resins, wherein in a preferred embodiment, Resinol 90C is used in this step.

[0043] Next, a vacuum is created within the stabilizing chamber with the help of a vacuum pump attached to said chamber. Creation of vacuum increases the pressure inside the stabilizing chamber, which leads to release of air bubbles from the stabilizing material covered wooden plank. This results in better impregnation of the stabilizing material into the wooden plank. The pressure inside the stabilizing chamber is increased until the air bubbles stop.

[0044] Thereafter, the wooden plank is taken out of the stabilizing chamber and is wrapped in a material such as an Aluminum foil, which is then placed inside a preheated oven for about one hour and 30 minutes. The oven is typically preheated to a temperature within the range of 70-100 degree Celsius, wherein in a preferred embodiment, the oven is preheated to a temperature of 100 degree Celsius. The invention encompasses other temperature ranges that may be known or obvious to a person skilled in the art. The time for which the wooden plank be placed inside a preheated oven may depend upon several factors such as the type of wood, the size and shape of the plank, the temperature of the oven, the stabilizing material used in the previous step, etc. Thus, other time ranges, other than 30 minutes, is also encompassed by the invention.

[0045] The wood thus produced as a result of the process of stabilization in accordance with the embodiments of the invention, is harder, stronger and can be easily machined to give a desired shape. In one embodiment, the shaped wood is used for producing knitting needles, or the like.

Advantages of the Invention

[0046] The main advantages of the present invention are: [0047] 1) Present invention provides with cost effective dimensionally stable wood. [0048] 2) Present invention provides with high quality dimensionally stable timber which can directly that can be easily machined to be shaped into cylindrical and circular objects. [0049] 3) Present invention provides wood with improved dimensionally stable properties.