Mineral stains for wood and other substrates

Abstract

According to the invention, a metal salt and an oxygen source are applied to penetrate or impregnate a suitable substrate sequentially in effective amounts so as to react in contact with the substrate and produce a mineral compound fixed within the surface of the substrate. The inventive combination of a mutually compatible metal salt, oxygen source, and substrate brings about an in situ reaction, and modifies the substrate to bring about a lasting desired effect. The mineral compound that is produced according to the invention is linked to the substrate, is stable and long-lasting or permanent, and is immobilized or insolubilized in the substrate. The mineral compound is bound or contained within and on the surface of the substrate, so it may be said to be ingrained in the fibers or matrix of the substrate, or embedded within the substrate. The desired effect is preferably a color. A wide variety of metal salts may be used depending on the desired effect. The oxygen source is preferably a peroxide, and the substrate is preferably a cellulose product such as wood, cotton, or paper; leather; or masonry. The invention contemplates methods of treating substrates, treatment kits, and treated products. With wood products, the invention provides a water-based stain of low toxicity useful for soft woods.

1 . A kit for imparting a pre-determined color to a wood substrate, comprising: 
 (a) a solution of a mineral salt, and    (b) a solution of an oxidizing agent,    the mineral salt and oxidizing agent solutions being applied sequentially in effective amounts to the wood substrate, sequentially penetrating a surface of the wood substrate, reacting with each other in the presence of the wood substrate and imparting the color to the wood substrate.    
     
     
         2 . A method for treating a wood substrate comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting a surface of a wood substrate with a first formulation comprising a metal salt and a solvent,    (b) Penetrating the surface of the wood substrate with an effective amount of the first formulation to penetrate the wood substrate, and sequentially    (c) Contacting the wood substrate with a second formulation comprising an oxidizing agent and a solvent,    (d) Penetrating the surface of the wood substrate with an effective amount of the second formulation,    (e) Reacting the first and second formulations with each other in contact with the wood substrate, and    (f) Imparting a stable change to the characteristics of the wood substrate.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oxidizing agent is sodium peroxide or sodium hydroxide and the solvents in the first and second formulations are acids, alcohol, water or combinations.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of salts of iron, silver, zinc, cerium, copper, gold, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, tin, chromium, aluminum, barium, calcium, sodium, potassium, and titanium, and combinations.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of salts of aluminum, antimony, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, iridium, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, osmium, platinum, plutonium, potassium, rhodium, selenium, silicon, silver, sodium, tantalum, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, and zinc, and combinations.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of sulfates, chlorides, perchlorates, acetates, nitrates, permanganates, thiosulfates, and oxides, and combinations.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of silver sulfate, silver perchlorate, silver nitrate, silver sulfate, iron (II) chloride, zinc perchlorate, iron (II) perchlorate, iron (II) sulfate, copper acetate, sodium thiosulfate, magnesium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium permanganate, copper nitrate, copper II carbonate dihydroxide, copper sulfate, titanium III sulfate, magnesium nitrate, cerium (III) perchlorate, and cerium nitrate, and combinations.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum (VI) oxide, zinc sulfate, copper (II) chloride, nickel perchlorate, nickel sulfate, copper (II) perchlorate, tin (II) sulfate, tin (I) chloride, chromium (III) sulfate, aluminum sulfate, cerium (III) perchlorate, zinc peroxide, titanium hydride, chromium (III) perchlorate, zinc powder, manganese (II) chloride, aluminum chloride, titanium (IV) chloride, silver chloride, and titanium (II) sulfate, and combinations.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oxidizing agent is sodium hydroxide.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, zinc peroxide, calcium peroxide, barium peroxide, and lithium peroxide, sodium hydroxide and combinations.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wood substrate is a close grain wood.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wood substrate is a wood-like product.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wood substrate is selected from the group consisting of hardwoods, soft woods, porous surface woods and close grain wood, and manufactured wood products.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wood substrate is a hardwood manufactured wood product.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wood substrate is a soft wood manufactured wood product.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wood substrate is a pine wood.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the effect imparted to the wood substrate is a color.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein step (a) is performed before step (c).  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein step (c) is performed before step (a).  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of drying the wood substrate between step (b) and step (c).  
     
     
         21 - 56 . (canceled)