A method of manufacturing a cementitious composition comprising: dispersing expanded polymeric microspheres into a liquid dispersion, optionally wherein the liquid dispersion comprises an aqueous dispersion; and incorporating the liquid dispersion comprising expanded polymeric microspheres into the cementitious composition; wherein the expanded polymeric microspheres are present in the liquid dispersion in an amount of about 0.1 to about 15 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the dispersion, prior to incorporation into the cementitious composition. An admixture for cementitious compositions comprising unexpanded polymeric microspheres and sodium hydroxide.

A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10.sup.2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10.sup.2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

A plasterboard includes a first layer of plaster and a second layer of plaster, wherein the first layer includes activated carbon; the second layer includes a scavenging agent, wherein a content of scavenging agent in the first layer, expressed as percentage by weight of dry matter, is less than a content of scavenging agent in the second layer, and wherein the second layer is free of activated carbon.

A method for manufacturing unitized formed mineral-based construction materials includes providing starting materials of an aggregate, a cementing agent, a sublimation agent and water. The sublimation agent (between 25% and 50% by weight of the cementing agent) is selected from molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, vanadium disulfide, copper sulfate, and combinations thereof. The method includes mixing the starting materials to achieve a mixture, placing the mixture into a form, and curing the mixture in the form for a time to allow the mixture to become a solidified unit defined by a minimum dimension of thickness, length, width or diameter. The method further includes placing the solidified unit into a kiln, heating the kiln to a temperature of 11151350 C., maintaining the kiln at the temperature for between 10-60 minutes per centimeter of the minimum dimension, and removing the solidified unit from the kiln.

This invention relates to polymeric compositions for application onto natural stone in order to provide for long-term chemical, stain, and water resistance, along with antimicrobial properties. Many natural, unsealed stones do not have stain, etch, or water resistance. The described compositions were developed using a technology of chemical grafting that involves the use of prepolymers, monomers, catalysts, graft initiators, wetting agents, antimicrobial agents, and other ingredients. The composition, when thus applied to the stone surface allows it to obtain a graft polymerization, thereby forming a polymer film that is chemically attached to the natural stone, rather than typical physical bonding of other sealer compositions. The natural stones react with a graft initiator in the composition, which creates the reaction sites on the natural stone surface via free radical mechanisms. This in turn renders the natural stone to be receptive to attachment of monomers/prepolymers forming a polymeric film chemically bonded to the natural stone which then has the desired properties in terms of resistance to staining, etching, water penetration, etc., used in homes and light commercial applications, as well as for exterior use on building facades, monuments and the like.

This invention relates to polymeric compositions for application onto natural stone in order to provide for long-term chemical, stain, and water resistance, along with antimicrobial properties. Many natural, unsealed stones do not have stain, etch, or water resistance. The described compositions were developed using a technology of chemical grafting that involves the use of prepolymers, monomers, catalysts, graft initiators, wetting agents, antimicrobial agents, and other ingredients. The composition, when thus applied to the stone surface allows it to obtain a graft polymerization, thereby forming a polymer film that is chemically attached to the natural stone, rather than typical physical bonding of other sealer compositions. The natural stones react with a graft initiator in the composition, which creates the reaction sites on the natural stone surface via free radical mechanisms. This in turn renders the natural stone to be receptive to attachment of monomers/prepolymers forming a polymeric film chemically bonded to the natural stone which then has the desired properties in terms of resistance to staining, etching, water penetration, etc., used in homes and light commercial applications, as well as for exterior use on building facades, monuments and the like.

The present invention relates to the use of an additive as well as a process to improve the adhesion of a mortar to a building substrate, wherein the mortar is mixed with said additive and is applied to a building substrate selected from the group of polystyrene-containing substrates, polyolefin-containing substrates or polyvinyl chloride-containing substrates, the additive containing (i) a plasticizer that is liquid at 50 C. or lower, has a boiling point of 100 C. or higher, and that has a solubility parameter 25 C. between 22.5 MPa.sup.1/2 and MPa.sup.1/2; (ii) optionally, a filler that has a BET surface area of at least 40 m.sup.2/g; (iii) optionally, a biopolymer, (iv) optionally, a protective colloid; and (v) optionally, a water-insoluble film-forming (co)polymer based on ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The invention also covers an additive and a kit of parts suitable for use in the above process.

The present invention relates to the use of an additive as well as a process to improve the adhesion of a mortar to a building substrate, wherein the mortar is mixed with said additive and is applied to a building substrate selected from the group of polystyrene-containing substrates, polyolefin-containing substrates or polyvinyl chloride-containing substrates, the additive containing (i) a plasticizer that is liquid at 50 C. or lower, has a boiling point of 100 C. or higher, and that has a solubility parameter 25 C. between 22.5 MPa.sup.1/2 and MPa.sup.1/2; (ii) optionally, a filler that has a BET surface area of at least 40 m.sup.2/g; (iii) optionally, a biopolymer, (iv) optionally, a protective colloid; and (v) optionally, a water-insoluble film-forming (co)polymer based on ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The invention also covers an additive and a kit of parts suitable for use in the above process.

Cementitious compositions comprising a hydraulic cementitious material, a compound selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy aromatic compound, a polycarboxylic acid-containing compound or a salt thereof, ascorbic acid or a salt thereof, or a combination thereof, and a particulate material or a water soluble silicate-containing material that interacts with the compound are described herein. The polyhydroxy aromatic compound can be a water soluble compound having from two to thirty hydroxyl groups. The particulate material can exhibit a particle size distribution, wherein at least about 90% by weight of the particles have a diameter of less than 2 mm. Suitable particulate materials include nanoparticles and microparticles. The cementitious compositions can be used to form building materials. The cementitious compositions are especially suited for inhibiting corrosion of reinforcing steel bars embedded in concrete mixtures. Methods of making and using the cementitious composition are also disclosed.