Wood modification - a promising method for wood preservation

Over the last two decades wood modification has been subjected to intensive research. By changing the chemical nature of the polymers in the wood cell wall, many properties such as durability, dimensional stability and UV-stability can be considerably improved. The cell wall structure can be altered with thermal treatments, chemical modification or enzymatic treatments. In some European countries heat-treated wood is already on the market. Some other modification systems, especially acetylation with acetic anhydride, have also been scaled-up and are now in the industrialising phase. Due to improved properties, modified wood is or could be applicable mainly for joinery, urban and garden furniture production, flooring, and decking. This paper describes the need for new methods in wood preservation, and wood modification as a very promising method and possible uses of modified wood.