Wood protection and modification is an effective strategy to improve its engineering properties

Wood is a natural bio-polymer. The unique advantages of this engineering material including its widespread availability, sustainable renewal, favorable ecological assessment, ease of processing, lightness, reusability, and environmental compatibility have not been hidden from the eyes of scientists and engineers and have made it one of the most popular materials in the construction of structures, such as houses, bridges, docks, furniture, etc. However, the natural nature of this engineering material imposes limits on its properties (moisture absorption, dimensional changes, biological deterioration, weathering and ultraviolet degradation, etc.) and application. Therefore, this natural material may need to be transformed in order to acquire the desired functionality. Accordingly, wood modification can be an effective method to increase the strength and durability of this engineering material and results in a wide range of wood products. Therefore, nowadays, with the development of technology, various methods of wood modification have been invented to improve its engineering properties, and consequently wood has considerable importance for engineers, architects and designers of structures. The department of wood and paper science of research institute of forests and rangelands is one of the oldest and most experienced custodians in field of wood and its products. The wide research has been carried out by this group in various fields of wood protection and modification. This research team has achieved considerable results by applying various methods of wood protection and modification as well as different preservatives, whose results are presented in scientific journals, internal and international conferences and seminars. The results of this research can be used as effective solutions to increase the strength and durability of wood and its products.