Described are dry cast lightweight veneer blocks and a system and method of installing lightweight veneer blocks. The courses can be assembled without mortar between the courses. As an example, sides of the veneer blocks have areas that recede from an imaginary plane between adjacent veneer blocks to give a deep texturing and a shadow effect between veneer blocks. The installation system and method include a substrate, an air barrier applied to the substrate, a plurality of veneer blocks, and an adhesive applied between the plurality of veneer blocks and the air barrier.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.

A porous refractory article including greater than 90 wt % coal combustion fly ash. The coal combustion fly ash is in the form of an interconnected particulate lattice structure, and wherein greater than 50% by volume of the coal combustion fly ash particles within the particulate lattice structure have a particle size of greater than 150 μm. The article has: (a) an apparent porosity of from 30% to 50%, (b) a porosity such that the maximum pore size is less than 500 μm; (c) a cold crushing strength of at least 4.0 MPa; and (d) a thermal conductivity of less than 1.5 W/(m.Math.K).

A porous refractory article including greater than 90 wt % coal combustion fly ash. The coal combustion fly ash is in the form of an interconnected particulate lattice structure, and wherein greater than 50% by volume of the coal combustion fly ash particles within the particulate lattice structure have a particle size of greater than 150 μm. The article has: (a) an apparent porosity of from 30% to 50%, (b) a porosity such that the maximum pore size is less than 500 μm; (c) a cold crushing strength of at least 4.0 MPa; and (d) a thermal conductivity of less than 1.5 W/(m.Math.K).

An erosion resistant composition includes a granular material and a wax including oil in which a weight percent of the oil in the wax is between 0.01-15%. The granular material includes a sand and has a first resistance to flow prior to being coated with the wax. The wax at least partially coats a portion of the granular material to form the erosion resistant composition which has a second resistance to flow after coating that is greater than the first resistance to flow prior to coating. The erosion resistant composition may be used, for example, in golf course bunkers or other landscaping applications. Related methods of making the erosion resistant composition are also described in which the granular material is dried, the wax is heated, and the granular material is blended with the melted wax.

An erosion resistant composition includes a granular material and a wax including oil in which a weight percent of the oil in the wax is between 0.01-15%. The granular material includes a sand and has a first resistance to flow prior to being coated with the wax. The wax at least partially coats a portion of the granular material to form the erosion resistant composition which has a second resistance to flow after coating that is greater than the first resistance to flow prior to coating. The erosion resistant composition may be used, for example, in golf course bunkers or other landscaping applications. Related methods of making the erosion resistant composition are also described in which the granular material is dried, the wax is heated, and the granular material is blended with the melted wax.

An erosion resistant composition includes a granular material and a wax including oil in which a weight percent of the oil in the wax is between 0.01-15%. The granular material includes a sand and has a first resistance to flow prior to being coated with the wax. The wax at least partially coats a portion of the granular material to form the erosion resistant composition which has a second resistance to flow after coating that is greater than the first resistance to flow prior to coating. The erosion resistant composition may be used, for example, in golf course bunkers or other landscaping applications. Related methods of making the erosion resistant composition are also described in which the granular material is dried, the wax is heated, and the granular material is blended with the melted wax.

Granular and/or shaped hydrophobic silica useful for thermal insulation materials are prepared by mixing hydrophilic silica with a hydrophobicizing agent at low temperature so the hydrophobicizing agent does not appreciably react, followed by deaeration and compaction.

Granular and/or shaped hydrophobic silica useful for thermal insulation materials are prepared by mixing hydrophilic silica with a hydrophobicizing agent at low temperature so the hydrophobicizing agent does not appreciably react, followed by deaeration and compaction.