Do you love the look and durability of tropical hardwoods but hate the idea of destroying the rainforest? The Norwegian based company Kebony has found a solution. Their "kebonization" process is a non-toxic treatment that gives softwoods that exist outside of the rainforest like maple and pine the strength of teak and ipe.
The kebonization process involves soaking the wood in furfuryl alcohol, a waste byproduct from sugar cane, that is completely non-toxic, unlike other pressure treating methods. The resulting wood can be used for siding, roofs and decking and is so strong the company claims roofs built using it can last 30 years.
Alas, the company has not yet opened an American office. Until then, the material must be imported from Europe. Kebony, come to the U.S.!
The wood is no more flamible than natural wood and when burned it has the same emmission profile as natural wood. The building block of plant material is Furan. The Furan is extracted from plant fibers and it is distilled into Furfural Alcohol, an organic monomer. We put this back into the lumberand cross polymerize the wood fibers and the organic monomer into a new cross linked polymer strand. At this point there is no alcohol remaining in the material.
Dave,
We heard you calling and we are now here in the US! We are currently shipping direct to many customers, contractors and larger projects where we have been specified. We are developing regional suppliers with one near you - depending on where you live. Contact us below:
1 888 914 9995
1 540 904 6781 www.kebony.com/boardwalk www.kebony.us.com
Builder@kebony.us.com
