Densified wood including process for preparation

Abstract

A wood substrate or member is included, having an increased density with respect to natural, untreated wood. The process includes drying the wood prior to application of heat and pressure, which are controlled to reduce or eliminate color change on a surface of the wood member where heat and pressure are applied.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treated wood member comprising a density about 10% to about 150% greater than untreated wood wherein the cellular structure of the wood is substantially intact. 
     
     
         2 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein the density is about 40% to about 100% greater than untreated wood. 
     
     
         3 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein the density of the treated wood member has been increased throughout a thickness of said wood member. 
     
     
         4 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , having a thickness that is 30% to about 70% less than the untreated wood. 
     
     
         5 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein said member has a surface color difference (ΔE) less than 20 compared to a surface color of untreated wood. 
     
     
         6 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein said member has density greater than about 50 pcf (lbs/ft 3 ). 
     
     
         7 . The treated wood member of  claim 6 , wherein said member has a density about 50 pcf to about 85 pcf. 
     
     
         8 . The treated wood member of  claim 6 , wherein said member has a density about 60 pcf to about 70 pcf. 
     
     
         9 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein said treated wood member is a hardwood or softwood. 
     
     
         10 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein the treated wood thickness is greater than about 0.025 in. 
     
     
         11 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein the treated wood thickness is greater than about 0.25 in. 
     
     
         12 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein the treated wood thickness is about 0.5 in to about 8 in. 
     
     
         13 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , wherein the treated wood thickness is about 0.5 in to about 3 in. 
     
     
         14 . The treated wood member of  claim 1 , further comprising a core, wherein the treated wood member is a veneer. 
     
     
         15 . Flooring comprising the treated wood member of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method for increasing the density of a wood member including:
 (a) providing a wood member having a moisture content less than about 19%;   (b) preheating the wood member;   (c) optionally, applying water to a surface of the wood member;   (d) applying pressure to the wood member for a press time; and   (e) providing a post-treatment conditioning of the wood member.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 cooling the wood member before the post-treatment conditioning.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the post-treatment conditions includes the introduction of steam, humidity, heat or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preheating is conducted at temperature of about 250° F. to about 500° F. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the preheating is for a time sufficient to obtain a temperature for a core of the wood member to about 250° F. to about 500° F. and a moisture content of 0 to about 5%. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein heat is applied during pressing to maintain a preheat temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the moisture content of the wood prior to pre-heating is about 0 to about 10%. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said pressure is about 500 psi to about 5,000 psi. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the density of the wood member is increase by about 10% to about 150%. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the water is applied in the form of steam to the surface of the member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said press time is about 10 seconds to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the applying pressure is conducted with a heated platen press, a continuous press, a series of mills, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the applying pressure is a single press cycle or multiple press cycles.