Disclosed is a method to produce composite materials, which contain customized mixes of nano- and/or micro-particles with tailored electromagnetic spectral properties, structural elements based thereon, in particular layers, but also bulk materials including inhomogeneous bulk materials. In some embodiments the IR-reflectivity is enhanced predominantly independently of reflectivity for visible wavelength. The enhanced IR-reflectivity is achieved by combining spectral properties from a plurality of nano- and/or micro-particles of distinct size distribution, shape distribution, chemical composition, crystal structure, and crystallinity distribution. This enables to approximate desired target spectra better than know solutions, which comprise only a single type of particles and/or an uncontrolled natural size distribution. Furthermore disclosed are methods of manufacturing such materials, including ceramics, clay, and concrete, as well as applications related to design and construction of buildings or other confined spaces.

A method is provided for preserving cooking oil in a food fryer which comprises contacting the oil in situ with at least one oil-permeable cement body which is a stand-alone block and which has been hydraulically hardened from a paste comprising (i) white OPC clinker, (ii) white OPC or (iii) a mixture of white OPC clinker and white OPC, wherein the porosity of the cement body, estimable from the difference between its water-saturated and dry weights, is 30-55%, pores in the body being oil receptive by virtue of low un-bound water content.

A method is provided for preserving cooking oil in a food fryer which comprises contacting the oil in situ with at least one oil-permeable cement body which is a stand-alone block and which has been hydraulically hardened from a paste comprising (i) white OPC clinker, (ii) white OPC or (iii) a mixture of white OPC clinker and white OPC, wherein the porosity of the cement body, estimable from the difference between its water-saturated and dry weights, is 30-55%, pores in the body being oil receptive by virtue of low un-bound water content.

The present invention provides two-component compositions comprising a component A) one or more acrylic aqueous emulsion copolymer having a measured glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of from −20 to 0° C. and which is the copolymerization product of (i) from 60 to 89.9 wt. % of one or more nonionic (meth)acrylic monomers, (ii) from 10 to 40 wt. % of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, (iii) from 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % of one or more monomers chosen from itaconic acid, methacrylic acid, amides of a,β-unsaturated C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, all wt. %s of monomers based on the total monomer solids, wherein the aqueous emulsion copolymer has at least one residue of an ascorbic acid reducing agent or is the copolymerization product of a monomer (iii) comprising itaconic acid, and, a separate component B) comprising a fast curing dry mix powder composition of a hydraulic cement and a high alumina content cement.

The present invention provides two-component compositions comprising a component A) one or more acrylic aqueous emulsion copolymer having a measured glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of from −20 to 0° C. and which is the copolymerization product of (i) from 60 to 89.9 wt. % of one or more nonionic (meth)acrylic monomers, (ii) from 10 to 40 wt. % of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, (iii) from 0.1 to 2.0 wt. % of one or more monomers chosen from itaconic acid, methacrylic acid, amides of a,β-unsaturated C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, all wt. %s of monomers based on the total monomer solids, wherein the aqueous emulsion copolymer has at least one residue of an ascorbic acid reducing agent or is the copolymerization product of a monomer (iii) comprising itaconic acid, and, a separate component B) comprising a fast curing dry mix powder composition of a hydraulic cement and a high alumina content cement.

Process for the preparation of an additive comprising TiO.sub.2 particles dispersed on a support of pseudo-layered phyllosilicate-type, comprising the dispersion in water of the support, the acid activation of the support and the high-shear dispersion of the support with the TiO.sub.2 particles Use of the particles obtained by this process as additives with photocatalytic activity for water purification and disinfection, for purification of polluted gas streams and to provide materials, in particular construction materials, with self-cleaning, biocide, deodorization and/or pollution reduction properties in the presence of air and ultraviolet light.

Process for the preparation of an additive comprising TiO.sub.2 particles dispersed on a support of pseudo-layered phyllosilicate-type, comprising the dispersion in water of the support, the acid activation of the support and the high-shear dispersion of the support with the TiO.sub.2 particles Use of the particles obtained by this process as additives with photocatalytic activity for water purification and disinfection, for purification of polluted gas streams and to provide materials, in particular construction materials, with self-cleaning, biocide, deodorization and/or pollution reduction properties in the presence of air and ultraviolet light.

Polyurethane composites and methods of preparing polyurethane composites are described herein. The polyurethane composite can comprise (a) a polyurethane formed by the reaction of (i) one or more isocyanates selected from the group consisting of diisocyanates, polyisocyanates, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) one or more polyols; (b) fly ash comprising 50% or greater by weight, fly ash particles having a particle size of from 0.2 micron to 100 microns; and (c) a coarse filler material comprising 80% or greater by weight, filler particles having a particle size of from greater than 250 microns to 10 mm. The coarse filler material can be present in the composite in an amount of from 1% to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite. The weight ratio of the fly ash to the coarse filler material can be from 9:1 to 200:1.

Polyurethane composites and methods of preparing polyurethane composites are described herein. The polyurethane composite can comprise (a) a polyurethane formed by the reaction of (i) one or more isocyanates selected from the group consisting of diisocyanates, polyisocyanates, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) one or more polyols; (b) fly ash comprising 50% or greater by weight, fly ash particles having a particle size of from 0.2 micron to 100 microns; and (c) a coarse filler material comprising 80% or greater by weight, filler particles having a particle size of from greater than 250 microns to 10 mm. The coarse filler material can be present in the composite in an amount of from 1% to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite. The weight ratio of the fly ash to the coarse filler material can be from 9:1 to 200:1.

A fire proof compound is provided including MgSO4.7H2O) (Mg4Si6O15(OH)2.6H2O) CaO (s)+H.sub.2O (1)⇄Ca(OH).sub.2 (ΔH.sub.r=−63.7 kJ/mol of CaO) (CaSO.sub.4.2H2O) H.sub.4 Mg.sub.2 Si.sub.3 O.sub.10). The compound can be added to a gypsum substrate of a wallboard to manufacture a fire proof wallboard. The compound can also be mixed with a paint to provide a fire proof paint. In certain composition, the compound can also exhibit an electromagnetic field blocking property. An existing wallboard manufacturing process line can be modified to accept the additional process of adding the compound to the gypsum substrate of the wallboard.