A new method of microwave (MW) wood modification is described. Microwave irradiation of timber provides an improvement in wood permeability mainly in the radial and longitudinal directions. This is achieved by physically modifying ray cells and forming a large number of cavities in the radial - longitudinal planes. More extensive MW irradiation of different species transforms the wood into a new material - "Torgvin" with radically altered properties: improved permeability, reduced density, reduced heat conductivity (better heat insulation), reduced shrinkage and swelling, improved acoustic properties (better sound insulation). Increasing the permeability of "difficult-to-treat" species provides a number of opportunities: - the preservative treatment of refractory hardwoods; - improved preservative treatment of softwoods; - a reduction in timber drying time - a reduction in drying defects - production of new wood materials for example "Vintorg" (a substitute of for laminated veneer lumber (LVL) - improved pulping properties of hardwoods. Preliminary economic evaluation of MW wood modification indicates that this new technology is profitable for many applications.

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