The invention relates synthetic silicate granules comprising a mixture of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and Na.sub.2O, which can be obtained by sintering; to their use in manufacturing an agglomerate stone material and to the agglomerate stone material resulting thereof.

The invention relates to a construction unit made from various recyclable materials, for example, from recycled waste plasterboard from the construction industry or flue-gas gypsum which is a by-product from fossil-fueled power plants. The construction units are made from a raw mix comprising gypsum, clay and aggregate and methods of making construction units. The invention also relates to a raw mix for making a construction unit; a kit including a construction unit and mortar; and uses of the construction unit to form a structure.

The invention relates to a construction unit made from various recyclable materials, for example, from recycled waste plasterboard from the construction industry or flue-gas gypsum which is a by-product from fossil-fueled power plants. The construction units are made from a raw mix comprising gypsum, clay and aggregate and methods of making construction units. The invention also relates to a raw mix for making a construction unit; a kit including a construction unit and mortar; and uses of the construction unit to form a structure.

Provided herein are a method and a system for producing slabs, tiles or sheets of artificial stone, with a wide vein effect, comprising inorganic particles of different sizes and hardened binders, and which simulate the appearance of natural stone.

Provided herein are a method and a system for producing slabs, tiles or sheets of artificial stone, with a wide vein effect, comprising inorganic particles of different sizes and hardened binders, and which simulate the appearance of natural stone.

This document describes systems and processes for forming synthetic molded slabs, which may be suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, or the like).

This document describes systems and processes for forming synthetic molded slabs, which may be suitable for use in living or working spaces (e.g., along a countertop, table, floor, or the like).

The present invention relates to a composite material, particularly a composite material for ceramic tiles, stone cladding, surface tops (e.g. worktops), and the like. The composite materials are typically derived from waste products. The composite materials of the present invention are formed from a glass component and a non-glass mineral component (e.g. ceramics and/or glaze). Generally the composite materials do not require any binders (especially synthetic binders) to hold the materials together. Therefore, the composite materials and products made therefrom are typically recyclable.

A method of making a porous silicate based material with similar properties as an extrusive or intrusive igneous silicate based rock without being naturally occurring. Quartz sand with a silica content (SiO.sub.2) of more than 75% is mixed with Sodium oxide, Calcium oxide, and Aluminum oxide and heated up to a temperature of more than 960 C. and for the chemical reactions to take place and for the molten mixture to reach an elastic state where the viscosity allows the formed gasses to be dissolved into the melt. The sintering process may be at atmospheric pressure or at positive pressure. The material is then cooled to a solid. The process gives a porous igneous rock with micro cells based on CO.sub.2 bubbles made at a temperature prior to the molten mixture reaching a plastic state. The solid material may be milled and used as a filter material. In one aspect, the solid is milled, mixed with a foaming agent, melted and cooled in order to form an even more porous second solid 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.