Patent ID: 6083437
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B27K,B27N

Abstract:
A method for dimensional stabilization treatment of wood or wood composite, comprising:providing a space to be sealed between upper and lower press platens,placing wood or wood composite, said wood or wood composite selected from the group consisting of natural wood as lumber and wood veneer, medium density fiberboard, oriented strand board, wafer board and particle board, in the space to be sealed,sealing the space by a sealing member disposed between the press platens for closing the space,first evacuating the sealed space through fine openings provided in said lower platen to establish reduced pressure in the sealed space, andthen supplying high pressure steam through fine openings provided in said upper platen to the sealed space under the reduced pressure for a predetermined period to subject the wood or wood composite contained in the sealed space to high pressure steam treatment, wherein the high pressure steam applied from the upper platen penetrates into the interior of the wood or wood composite while the reduced pressure is applied on a lower surface of the wood or wood composite to uniformly distribute the high pressure steam throughout the wood or wood composite whereby the dimensional stability is improved, including rate of thickness change when soaked in cold water or boiled in water.