The present invention relates to the field of foam formation and stabilization, particularly foamed construction materials, such as cement. Disclosed are additives suitable to obtain mineral foams when added to the corresponding starting materials. The invention provides a ready-to-use product in the form of a solid particulate composition comprising hydrophobized particles (1) and catalytically active particles (2) as defined in claim 1. The invention further provides for manufacturing methods of such ready-to-use product.

It is intended to provide an industrially advantageous method for obtaining zirconium tungsten phosphate that is useful as a negative thermal expansion material and exhibits a single phase in X-ray diffraction. The method for producing zirconium tungsten phosphate according to the present invention comprises using a mixture of a tungsten compound and an amorphous compound containing phosphorus and zirconium as a reaction precursor and calcining the reaction precursor. Preferably, the reaction precursor has an infrared absorption peak at least at 950 to 1150 cm.sup.1, and the maximum value of the infrared absorption peak in this range appears at 1030 (20) cm.sup.1.

The present application provides a negative thermal expansion material having excellent dispersibility and packing properties in a positive thermal expansion material. The negative thermal expansion material of the present invention comprises spherical zirconium tungsten phosphate having a BET specific surface area of 2 m.sup.2/g or smaller. The degree of sphericity is preferably 0.90 or more and 1 or less. Also preferably, the negative thermal expansion material further contains at least Mg and/or V as a subcomponent element. Also preferably, the content of the subcomponent element is 0.1% by mass or more and 3% by mass or less. Also preferably, the average particle size is 1 m or larger and 50 m smaller.

Disclosed is a method for producing a porous monolithic material from at least one powder, preferably mineral, the method including at least one step of low-temperature compression of a mixture based on powder and at least one solvent, preferably water. The materials produced by the method have improved mechanical properties compared to the prior art materials. The materials for medical application, such as hydroxyapatite, also have improved biocompatibility compared to the prior art materials. Also disclosed are materials produced by the method.

Disclosed is a method for producing a porous monolithic material from at least one powder, preferably mineral, the method including at least one step of low-temperature compression of a mixture based on powder and at least one solvent, preferably water. The materials produced by the method have improved mechanical properties compared to the prior art materials. The materials for medical application, such as hydroxyapatite, also have improved biocompatibility compared to the prior art materials. Also disclosed are materials produced by the method.

Provided are thermally insulating materials comprising 1 to 95 wt % ceramic oxide, 1 to 30 wt % inorganic binding agent, and treated at a temperature of less than about 1000 C.; processes for producing the insulating materials; and uses thereof.

Provided are thermally insulating materials comprising 1 to 95 wt % ceramic oxide, 1 to 30 wt % inorganic binding agent, and treated at a temperature of less than about 1000 C.; processes for producing the insulating materials; and uses thereof.

What are described are the use of a refractory coating composition for production of cores for diecasting, a kit for production of cores for use in diecasting, a method of producing cores for use in diecasting, cores for use in diecasting, and the use of such cores in diecasting, especially of lightweight metals.

What are described are the use of a refractory coating composition for production of cores for diecasting, a kit for production of cores for use in diecasting, a method of producing cores for use in diecasting, cores for use in diecasting, and the use of such cores in diecasting, especially of lightweight metals.

The invention concerns a process for the for the preparation of a hardening accelerator composition by reaction of a water-soluble calcium compound with a water-soluble silicate compound, the reaction being carried out in the presence of an aqueous solution which contains a plasticizer suitable for hydraulic binders, characterized in that said reaction is being carried out in the presence of apatite and that the molar ratio of calcium to phosphor in the hardening accelerator is from 25/1 to 400/1.