Described are cementitious reagent materials produced from globally abundant inorganic feedstocks. Also described are methods for the manufacture of such cementitious reagent materials and forming the reagent materials as microspheroidal glassy particles. Also described are apparatuses, systems and methods for the thermochemical production of glassy cementitious reagents with spheroidal morphology. The apparatuses, systems and methods make use of an in-flight melting/quenching technology such that solid particles are flown in suspension, melted in suspension, and then quenched in suspension. The cementitious reagents can be used in concrete to substantially reduce the CO.sub.2 emission associated with cement production.

A method for making a carbonated precast concrete product includes: obtaining a mixture including at least one binder material, an aggregate, and water; molding the mixture into a molded intermediate; demolding the molded intermediate to obtain a demolded intermediate, the demolded intermediate having a first water-to-binder ratio; conditioning the demolded intermediate to provide a conditioned article having a second water-to-binder ratio less than the first water-to-binder ratio of the demolded intermediate; moisturizing at least one surface of the conditioned article with an aqueous medium, thereby causing a weight gain of the conditioned article and providing a moisturized product, a first portion of the moisturized product having a third water-to-binder ratio greater than a fourth water-to-binder ratio of a remainder of the moisturized product; and curing the moisturized product with carbon dioxide to obtain the carbonated precast concrete product.

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 printing on at least a top surface of the engineered stone.

Plastisol compositions are provided, in which the plastisol compositions include a bio-based plasticizer comprising one or more epoxy groups and a polymeric resin dispersed throughout the bio-based plasticizer. The plastisol composition comprises a flowable material that can be coated onto substrates. Coated fibers including an inorganic fiber indirectly or directly at least partially coated with a plastisol composition comprising a bio-based plasticizer and a polymeric resin dispersed throughout the solidified bio-based plasticizer are also provided. Cementitious boards reinforced with inorganic fibers, such as mesh scrims, that include a solidified bio-based plasticizer coating applied thereto are also provided.

A system (15) for manufacturing a reinforcing element (1) for reinforced concrete comprises a feeder (16) of a reinforcing fiber bundle (2) along a pultrusion path (4), an impregnating device (17) which impregnates the reinforcing fiber bundle (2) with a liquid thermoplastic polymeric resin (6) to obtain an impregnated fiber bundle (2), a forming channel (8) through which the impregnated fiber bundle (2) is conducted, a solidification device (19) of the composite thread (9) forming a solidified thermoplastic fiber-reinforced bar (11), a pulling device (20) which holds the reinforcing fiber bundle (2) taut along the pultrusion path (4), a winder (21) which winds the solidified bar (11) to form a coil (14), a provisional bending device (22) which bends the composite thread (9) not yet solidified or heats the solidified bar (11) to soften it, bends the heated bar (11) and then cools the bar (11) to solidify it again, so as to confer a continuous provisional curvature to the solidified bar (11) in the direction of the subsequent winding in the coil (14).

The present invention relates to coloured fiber cement products as well as to methods for manufacturing such products. In particular, the present invention provides coloured fiber cement products, which fiber cement products are coloured in the mass, and at least comprise on at least part of their outer surface one or more cured layers of a coating composition, which composition at least comprises a binder and a pigment and/or a filler and is characterized by a pigment volume concentration (PVC) of between about 1% and about 20%. The present invention further provides processes for producing these coloured fiber cement products. Finally, the present invention provides uses of the coloured fiber cement products as building materials. In particular embodiments, the fiber cement products produced by the processes of the present invention can be used to provide an outer surface to walls, both internal as well as external, a building or construction, e.g. as fagade plate, siding, etc.

A cement composition for application to a ceramic substrate, such as a cement skin composition for application to a ceramic honeycomb body is provided. The cement composition includes a first source of inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter <50 nm, wherein the first source of inorganic particles is present at about <15% (by dry weight), a second source of inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of from about 50 nm to about 700 nm, wherein the second source of inorganic particles is present at from about 5% to about 15% (by dry weight), and a water-soluble organic binder. An inorganic fibrous material can be present at about <15% (based on dry weight). The amount of at least one of the first source of inorganic particles or the inorganic fibrous material is greater than 0% (by dry weight).

A carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid material that includes a blend comprising a catalyst supported on at least one of a metal, metalloid, metal oxide or carbon support, and at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of: cementitious materials, materials used in the production of cementitious materials, and materials used to enhance cementitious materials, and CNT on the blend.

The present invention provides a structure protection sheet capable of dramatically reducing a construction period to place protective layers on surfaces of structures such as concrete, protecting the structures for a long time, preventing swelling phenomena caused by water vapor inside the concrete, and preventing a decrease in attachability. The present invention relates to a structure protection sheet including: a polymer cement cured layer on a side facing a structure; and a resin layer on the polymer cement cured layer, the structure protection sheet having a water vapor transmission rate of 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.Math.day.

A method for making a carbonated precast concrete product includes: obtaining a mixture including at least one binder material, an aggregate, and water; molding the mixture into a molded intermediate; demolding the molded intermediate to obtain a demolded intermediate, the demolded intermediate having a first water-to-binder ratio; conditioning the demolded intermediate to provide a conditioned article having a second water-to-binder ratio less than the first water-to-binder ratio of the demolded intermediate; moisturizing at least one surface of the conditioned article with an aqueous medium, thereby causing a weight gain of the conditioned article and providing a moisturized product, a first portion of the moisturized product having a third water-to-binder ratio greater than a fourth water-to-binder ratio of a remainder of the moisturized product; and curing the moisturized product with carbon dioxide to obtain the carbonated precast concrete product.