Process for preserving wood using fluoro-materials

Abstract

A process for treating wood comprising at least partially penetrating it with a urethane- or acrylate-based fluoro-material. Also, wood produced by the process.

1 . A process for preserving wood comprising a) providing a composition containing a urethane- or acrylate-based fluoro-material and b) applying said composition to wood such that said composition penetrates at least partially into said wood and c) drying said wood such that said fluoro-material remains within said wood; wherein applying said composition comprises placing said wood into an evacuation chamber, substantially removing air from said wood by evacuation, and allowing said composition to enter said chamber. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising substantially removing air from the wood by evacuation in a vacuum chamber prior to applying the composition, introducing said composition into said vacuum chamber, and applying elevated pressure to said chamber such that said composition is forced to penetrate at least partially into said wood. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said fluoro-material is a urethane-based fluoro-material. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein said fluoro-material is a urethane-based fluoro-material comprising the reaction product of (1) a di- or higher order isocyanate compound and (2) a stoichiometric amount of an isocyanate reactive fluorochemical compound sufficient to react with at least 50% of the isocyanate groups in said isocyanate compound. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  further including a stoichiometric amount of an isocyanate reactive non-fluorochemical compound sufficient to react with 20% or less of the isocyanate groups in said isocyanate compound. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said composition is in the form of a substantially aqueous emulsion and includes an emulsification surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein additional surfactant is added to said emulsion. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said additional surfactant has the same polarity as said emulsification surfactant or is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said surfactant is a nonionic surfactant and is present at about 15 weight percent based on the total solids weight of said emulsion. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said composition further includes a sufficient amount of a coalescing solvent such that said fluoro-material would be completely soluble in said coalescing solvent at the temperature of treatment. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein said coalescing solvent is present at about 75 weight percent based on the total solids weight of said emulsion. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said wood being treated is underwater wood. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said wood is dried under ambient conditions before application of the composition containing the urethane- or acrylate-based fluoro-material.