MANUFACTURING AND PROPERTIES OF MODIFIED WOOD - A REVIEW OF 25 YEARS WORK

Results are reported of studies into some of the properties and forming behaviour of wood-polymer composite materials produced from natural wood by thermochemical manufacturing processes. The physico-mechanical properties, the moisture resistance, the bioresistance, the fire-resistance, and other operating properties have been considered and compared with those of natural wood. Forming properties are related to the various modifiers and technologies employed. Possible applications of the materials are suggested. The present paper reviews work carried out over a period of 25 years at the Byelorussian Institute of Technology, which has previously been difficult to publish in the western scientific literature.