Methods for preventing warping in wood products

Abstract

The invention provides a method for reducing warping in wood that comprises contacting with the cellulose fibers to be treated with a copolymer of silicone units having the general formula: (MaDbTcQd)x where M is R3SiO1/2—; D is R2SiO—; T is RSiO3/2—; Q is Si(O1/2)4—; R is a generalized organic radical selected from: linear or branched hydrocarbon radicals of 1-8 carbons containing 0-1 degree of unsaturation, or phenyl, or trifluoropropyl radicals; a, b, c, d are real numbers and further provided the ratio of a/(c+d) is between 0 and 4; the ratio of b to the rest is not subject to limitation provided the final base viscosity is between 50-3500 cSt; and at least one R group of each molecule must be a hydrolysable group; and maintaining the contact for a time sufficient to establish a change in the chemical structure of a portion of the cellulose fiber that provides a decrease in the hydrophilic quality of the fiber decreasing the wetting of the surface by liquid water.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.