The present invention relates to methods for the mechanochemical activation of low-kaolinite feedstocks. The invention further relates to the activated materials obtainable by said methods and uses thereof. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the mechanochemically activated materials and a further material selected from the group consisting of asphalt, cement, geopolymers, polymers and combinations thereof. The invention further relates to concrete and methods of their preparation.

A supplementary cementitious material used in combination with an activator such as Portland cement to produce a hydraulic binder. The supplementary cementitious material is based on physico-chemically treated filter cake product extracted from dredged sediments and can partially replace Portland cement clinker in conventional concrete applications with positive effects on sustainability (reduction of CO2 emissions, upcycling of residues).

An arrangement for producing a bulk material consisting substantially of foamed or blown mineral or oxide particles by thermal treatment of a bulk material of basic particles. The arrangement includes NIR halogen radiators for generating a NIR radiation field of radiation with an active component in a near infrared, NIR, range having a wavelength in a range between 0.8 ?m and 1.5 ?m and which has a power density of at least 50 kW/m.sup.2 for thermally treating the basic particles, a conveying device for transporting a layer or stream of the bed of basic particles through the radiation field, and a controller that controls heating of the bed of basic particles such that a maximum temperature in the layer or stream is in a temperature range between 600 and 1500? C.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

The present disclosure concerns expandable silica particles having a coating comprising talc powder and kaolin powder provided on the outer surface of the expandable silica particle and expandable and expanded silica particles comprising silica fume and/or ultrafine quartz silica sand beneath the surface of the particles. Methods for producing expandable and expanded silica particles are disclosed, including a method using a vibration plate and a furnace having a vibration plate for carrying out that method. The expanded silica particles have high compressive strength, substantially uniform cell size and distribution, low water absorption, and low porosity on the outer surface. They are useful as a filler in matrix materials, like concrete or epoxy, as insulation material with various binder materials, and as water filtration medium.

An apparatus and a method for expanding a slurry of thermally expandable thermoplastic microsphere is disclosed. The apparatus and method expand the slurry of thermally expandable thermoplastic microsphere without any direct contact to a fluid heat transfer medium. The apparatus and method utilise a distribution pipe attached to an outlet pipe.

A combined wooden frame support and ceiling system is provided, each support including upper and lower wooden chords and a wooden structure connecting the lower chord to the upper chord for weight bearing purposes. A gypsum wallboard batten strip is attached to the lower chord, and defining a ledge extending from each side of the lower chord. A single thickness of gypsum wallboard panels is used to create a ceiling attached to the support, each panel used to create the ceiling is made from a slurry composition including less than 5% by weight of Grade 4 vermiculite. Upon the support being assembled in the ceiling system, with a plurality of the supports, and having lengths of insulation supported by the ledges of the adjacent supports, the ceiling system resists charring by fire for at least one hour.

A combined wooden frame support and ceiling system is provided, each support including upper and lower wooden chords and a wooden structure connecting the lower chord to the upper chord for weight bearing purposes. A gypsum wallboard batten strip is attached to the lower chord, and defining a ledge extending from each side of the lower chord. A single thickness of gypsum wallboard panels is used to create a ceiling attached to the support, each panel used to create the ceiling is made from a slurry composition including less than 5% by weight of Grade 4 vermiculite. Upon the support being assembled in the ceiling system, with a plurality of the supports, and having lengths of insulation supported by the ledges of the adjacent supports, the ceiling system resists charring by fire for at least one hour.

A door for attenuating sound includes at least one core disposed between a front surface and a back surface. The at least one core includes a composition comprising vermiculite, for example, expanded vermiculite, and an inorganic bonding agent. Such a composition for the core has a density of at least 600 Kg/m.sup.3. The door has at least a sound transmission class (STC) rating or an outdoors/indoors transmission coefficient (OITC) being higher than 30.

A supplementary cementitious material used in combination with an activator such as Portland cement to produce a hydraulic binder. The supplementary cementitious material is based on physico-chemically treated filter cake product extracted from dredged sediments and can partially replace Portland cement clinker in conventional concrete applications with positive effects on sustainability (reduction of CO2 emissions, upcycling of residues).