Wood treatment for dimensional stabilization

• US 10,137,595 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. (Koppers Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. (Koppers Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jun, Gao, Xinhao Howard, Horton, John, Ziobro, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiliman, Leszek B
• Application Number:
  US15/327,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 428541
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 2240/70 Hydrophobation treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 3/0278 involving an additional treatment during or after impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 3/08 Impregnating by pressure , e.g. vacuum impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 3/15 Impregnating involving polymerisation including use of polymer-containing impregnating agents macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials C08H; compositions of lignin-containing materials C08L97/02
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 3/153 Without in-situ polymerisation, condensation, or cross-linking reactions
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 3/36 Aliphatic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B27K 3/50 Mixtures of different organic impregnating agents
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4825 Polyethers containing two hydroxy groups C08G18/4833 - C08G18/5096 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6492 Lignin containing materials; Wood resins; Wood tars; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2397/02 Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2471/02 Polyalkylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2475/08 from polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/0427 with only one layer of a composition containing a polymer binder with more layers C08J7/042
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/02 Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/04 Homopolymers or copolymers of esters C08L43/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 63/00 Compositions of epoxy resins; Compositions of derivatives of epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/00 Compositions of polyethers obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of polyacetals C08L59/00; of epoxy resins C08L63/00; of polythioether-ethers C08L81/02; of polyether-sulfones C08L81/06; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/00 Compositions of polyureas or polyurethanes; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 91/005 Drying oils
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/02 : Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 201/06 : containing oxygen atoms C09D201/025 takes precedence

Abstract

A process is provided for treating wood products including lumber, plywood and other engineered wood products comprising the steps of contacting a composition comprising a polypropylene glycol, a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, a polyether polyol having low solubility in water, or a polytetrahydrofuran, or hydrophobic polyether polyol, with the wood product. The invention also provides wood products comprising a polypropylene glycol, a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, a polyether polyol having low solubility in water, or a polytetrahydrofuran, or hydrophobic polyether polyol, that have greater dimensional stability compared to an untreated wood product.

Claims

1. A method of treating a wood product comprising the steps of contacting a composition consisting essentially of polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer with an average molecular weight of between at least 500 and 100,000 with a wood product, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 5 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer, and wherein the treated wood product has improved dimensional stability compared to an untreated wood product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises pressure, vacuum, or microwave treatment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 2,000.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 3,000.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 4,000.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 4,800.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 5,000.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 6,000.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 7,000.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 8,000.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is at least 10,000.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is less than about 5,000.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer has a solubility in water no greater than about 0.5% w/w at 25°

C.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the propylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is between about 500 and 5,000.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the contacting step comprises a temperature step of between about 20 and 60°

C.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the contacting step comprises a temperature step of between about 22 and 25°

C.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the average molecular weight of the propylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer is between about 5,000 and 100,000.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the contacting step comprises a temperature step of at least about 30°

C.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the contacting step comprises a temperature step of between about 30°

C. and 90°

C.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprising polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer produces a wood product with an anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) of at least 90% according to the procedures of AWPA E4-11.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprising polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer produces a wood product with water exclusion efficiency (WEE) of at least 90% according to the procedures of AWPA E4-11.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of treating the surface of the wood product with one or more agents or coatings.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the agent comprises an isocyanate or polyisocyanate.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a carrier.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the carrier comprises an alcohol, glycol, glycerol or oil.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of tung, corn, cottonseed, sesame seed, grape seed, linseed, poppy seed and walnut oil.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the oil is linseed oil.

28. A wood product produced by the method of claim 1.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 10 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 15 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 20 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 25 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 30 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 35 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 40 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol or a polypropylene glycol copolymer.

29. A wood product comprising a composition consisting essentially of polypropylene glycol with an average molecular weight of between at least 500 and 100,000, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 5 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol, and wherein the wood product has improved dimensional stability compared to an untreated wood product.

30. The wood product of claim 29, wherein the wood product has an anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) of at least 90% according to the procedures of AWPA E4-11.

31. The wood product of claim 29, wherein the wood product has a water exclusion efficiency (WEE) of at least 90% according to the procedures of AWPA E4-11.

55. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 10 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

56. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 15 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

57. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 20 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

58. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 25 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

59. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 30 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

60. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 35 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

61. The wood product of claim 29, wherein said wood product has a retention of at least 40 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polypropylene glycol.

32. A method of treating a wood product comprising the step of contacting a composition consisting essentially of a polyether polyol having low solubility in water with a wood product, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 5 pounds per cubic foot (pet) of said polyether polyol, and wherein the treated wood product has improved dimensional stability compared to an untreated wood product.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said polyether polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polytetrahydrofuran, and combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said polyether polyol has a solubility in water no greater than about 1.0% w/w at 25°

C.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said contacting step comprises a temperature of between about 20°

C. and 150°

C.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said contacting step comprises a temperature of between about 30°

C. and 100°

C.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein said contacting step comprises a temperature of between about 40°

C. and 60°

C.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein said contacting step comprises a temperature of between about 30°

C. and 60°

C.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the composition comprising a polyether polyol produces a wood product with an anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) of at least 90% according to the procedures of AWPA E4-11.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the composition comprising a polyether polyol produces a wood product with water exclusion efficiency (WEE) of at least 90% according to the procedures of AWPA E4-11.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of treating the surface of the wood product with one or more agents or coatings.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the agent comprises an isocyanate or polyisocyanate.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein the composition further comprises a carrier.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the carrier comprises an alcohol, glycol, glycerol or oil.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of tung, corn, cottonseed, sesame seed, grape seed, linseed, poppy seed and walnut oil.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the oil is linseed oil.

47. A wood product produced by the method of claim 32.

62. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 10 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.

63. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 15 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.

64. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 20 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.

65. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 25 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.

66. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 30 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.

67. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 35 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.

68. The method of claim 32, wherein the treated wood product has a retention of at least 40 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) of said polyether polyol.