ABSTRACT
Methods for processing wood are very limited. While metals. plastics. and glass can be processed in the liquid phase at high temperatures. natural wood cannot. This difference is due to the lack of plasticity of wood. so that it cannot be melted. dissolved, or softened sufficiently for molding. Consequenlly. the scope for utilizing wood is restricted, which sometimes makes wood less valuable as a material. lf plastic properties could be imparted to wood, it would become a more useful material.
