A novel method of making a wood composite employing cellulosic material as
the wood component and pulverized blast-furnace slag as the binder
component and the product produced thereby is disclosed. A settable
mixture of the wood component, binder component and water is prepared and
thereafter subjected to a forming pressure within a confined space. While
in its confined condition, the mixture is also subjected to heat and
carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) for a time and at a temperature sufficient to
cause accelerated and early setting of the mixture. Optionally,
calcium-rich compounds can be added to the settable mixture as a slag
cement binder enhancer and sodium silicate can also be used as a
mineralizer. The cellulosic material can also be pre-treated with a fire
retardant resulting in a cementatious wood composite exhibiting improved
fire resistance and in situ fire load bearing strength. Slag cement is
plentiful, being a by-product of steel mills, but as a binder, is
significantly less expensive than Portland cement. Employing CO.sub.2
injection, comparable set times for slag and Portland cements can be
obtained, but the wood composite employing a slag cement binder has
superior final strength.
