Apparatus and method for treating materials with compositions

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to treating materials and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for treating materials with compositions.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus, according to the present invention, for treating various materials with compositions.

#Referring to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, one embodiment of an apparatus 10, according to the present invention, is shown for treating various subject materials with compositions, according to the present invention. The compositions of the present invention are used for treating subject materials to impart stability and/or protection against various sources of damage, including, but not limited to, water, mildew, mold, fire, and/or insects. The term “treating” as that term is used means treating subject materials for stabilization and/or for protection from damage caused by any source, including, but not limited to, water, mildew, mold, fire, and/or insects. The term “subject material” as used herein is meant to include any material or object that can be treated with the compositions of the present invention, including, but not limited to, wood products (i.e., products containing any amount of wood), cellulose material (e.g., textiles, cotton, cloth, etc.), paper (e.g., cardboard, roofing paper, paper used to coat insulation, sheet rock paper, newsprint, paper towel, etc.), insulation, drywall, rock, masonry (e.g., brick), and sugar. It should be appreciated that the compositions penetrate the subject materials.

#In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the composition includes at least one silane-containing material and a carrier such as a hydrocarbon solvent. The silane-containing material prevents moisture intrusion for waterproofing. To prevent insect intrusion, the composition may include a boron-containing material. To prevent burning, the composition may include a fire-resistant material.

#The boron-containing material is preferably in the form of boric anhydride (chemical formula: B2O3), although other forms of boron-containing materials are acceptable. By way of a non-limiting example, borax (chemical formula: Na2B4O7.10H2O), and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (chemical formula: Na2B8O13.4H2O) may be used as well. Effective fungal and fire resistance can be obtained with a boron loading of 0.1 weight percent, based on the total weight of the treated material. However, in order to prevent wood-boring insect infestation (e.g., by ants and termites), a loading of 1-2 weight percent of boron is generally required. For more problematic insects, such as the Formosan termite, a loading of seven (7) weight percent of boron is generally required. Therefore, the present invention provides compositions to introduce boron into the material at levels of at least about 0.1 to at least about seven (7) weight percent and seal it to prevent environmental factors (e.g., rain) from leaching it from the interior of the treated material.