The second part of a comprehensive review of the literature on wood published in the Journal of Materials Science since its inception in 1966 is presented. The topics reviewed include wood modification and surface treatment, the thermal stability of wood and resistance to fire, the physical properties of wood chars and wood-based carbon materials, and the structure-related properties of wood-cement and wood-polymer composites. The articles reflect the wide range of techniques utilised to improve wood properties, the role of wood as a precursor for carbon-based materials and cellular ceramics and the application of wood as a composite reinforcement. JMS is in the vanguard of the latest developments in all these disciplines.