Patent ID: 7537841

Claim:
A process for reducing surface cracking in a wood product comprising: selecting a wood component selected from the group consisting of a veneer and a plank, the wood component having a first major surface and a second opposed major surface; applying a composition to the first major surface of the wood component; and then performing a further step selected from the group consisting of drying, at least partially curing, and a combination thereof; whereby the composition penetrates a portion of the wood component adjacent the first major surface; the composition comprising a thermal initiator and a component selected from the group consisting of (a) a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer and a reactive monomer, and (b) a (meth)acrylate; the (meth)acrylate being selected from the group consisting of a urethane (meth)acrylate, a multifunctional (meth)acrylate and combinations thereof; the wood component being subjected to no less than ambient pressure from the time the wood component is exposed to the composition until the further step is performed.