A cement-based tile formed from a mixture comprising: a cement in the range of about 0.1 to 88% by wet weight percent; a secondary material in the range of about 0.1 to 50% by wet weight percent, the secondary material comprising limestone, sand, silica sand, gypsum, silica fume, fumed silica, Plaster of Paris, calcium carbonate, fly ash, slag, rock, or a combination thereof; a reinforcement fiber in the range of about 0.5 to 20% by wet weight percent, the reinforcement fiber comprising cellulose fiber, glass fiber, plastic fiber, polypropylene fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, homopolymer acrylic fiber, alkali-resistant fiber, or a combination thereof; a rheology modifying agent in the range of about 0.5 to 10% by wet weight percent; a water in the range of 10 to 60% of a total wet material weight; and wherein the mixture is extruded or molded to form the cement-based tile.

A method of plugging a honeycomb body is disclosed herein, the method comprising: applying a mask layer to the honeycomb body defining a plurality of channels, wherein the mask layer defines a plurality of holes aligned with the plurality of channels; rotating a roller drum; moving the honeycomb body over the roller drum to define a nip between the roller drum and the honeycomb body; and inserting a plugging cement in the nip between the roller drum and the mask layer such that the roller drum forces the plugging cement through the plurality of holes of the mask layer into the plurality of channels of the honeycomb body.

Systems and methods of thermoforming stone slabs are provided, such as by heating a stone slab while forming it to a mold. Curved stone slabs may be produced having low radii of curvature.

A system and a method for constructing a printed ceramic object, the method including the steps of extruding a substance to generate a 3D-printed elastomeric object; deforming the 3D-printed elastomeric object into a complex structure to form a printed elastomeric origami object; and transforming the printed elastomeric origami object into an aforesaid printed ceramic origami object.

A method of plugging channels of a honeycomb body and a honeycomb body including plugged channels. The method includes applying a shear force to a plugging mixture including a plurality of inorganic particles, clay, and a liquid vehicle to alter the viscosity of the plugging mixture from a first viscosity prior to the vibrating to a second viscosity which is less than the first viscosity. A honeycomb body is placed into contact with the plugging mixture such that a portion of the plugging mixture having the second viscosity flows into the plurality of channels. Application of the shear force is stopped or reduced to increase the viscosity of the portion of the plugging mixture in the plurality of channels to greater than the first viscosity.

Methods and systems are described for fabricating a component using 3D printing. A 3D printed piece is created including a body of the component, a support structure, and a first sacrificial interface region coupling the body of the component to the support structure. The body of the component is formed of a first metal or ceramic material and the first sacrificial interface region is formed at least partially of a second metal or ceramic material. The body of the component is then separated from the support structure by applying a chemical or electrochemical dissolution process to the 3D printed piece. Because the second metal or ceramic material is less resistant to the dissolution process than the first metal or ceramic material, the first sacrificial interface region at least partially dissolves, thereby separating the body of the metal component from the support structure, without dissolving the body of the component.

An apparatus for curing concrete includes a multiple layer polyolefin film and an absorbent layer. The polyolefin film layer can include pH modifying components and antiskid components. The absorbent layer can also include pH modifying components. The absorbent layer can include nonwoven fabric. The apparatus can be applied to curing concrete after hydration water is applied to the curing concrete. The apparatus can also be used to enclose poured concrete members during transport of the members so as to continue the curing process during transport. The film can also be used as a barrier layer between the ground and poured concrete.

A method of manufacturing ceramic chips according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: (A) forming a plurality of dicing trenches on a ceramic wafer; (B) removing a surface in which the dicing trenches are formed by as much as a predetermined thickness to eliminate a rough surface, which is formed on an outer side of each of the dicing trenches when the dicing trenches are formed; and (C) removing a surface opposite to the surface in which the dicing trenches are formed by as much as a predetermined thickness so that the wafer is individualized into a plurality of ceramic chips.

A method for manufacturing an engineered stone, the method including: providing a mixture comprising at least a stone or stone like material and a binder; compacting the mixture; curing the binder; and further comprising printing a printed pattern on at least a top surface of the engineered stone.

A dispensing system for dispensing a slurry or glaze for making or printing products of the ceramic industry comprises a plurality of reservoirs suitable for containing a respective fluid mixture or glaze and at least one dispenser associated with the reservoirs and equipped with at least one outlet for dispensing the fluid mixture. The system further comprises at least one mixer operatively interposed between the reservoirs and the dispenser, and configured to receive the fluid mixture from each reservoir and to send a mixed fluid to the dispenser, adjusting means operatively interposed between each reservoir and the mixer, and a control unit associated with the adjusting means and configured to drive them so as to adjust the mixing ratio between the flow rates of fluid mixtures into the mixer depending on a reference signal related to a predetermined hue of the mixed fluid.