The invention relates to a method for producing an expanded granulate (29) made of a sand grain-shaped mineral material (1) using a propellant; wherein the material (1) is fed to a substantially upright furnace (2); wherein the material (1) is conveyed along a conveying path (4) through a plurality of vertically separated healing zones (5) in a furnace shaft (3) of the furnace (2), wherein each heating zone (5) can be heated by at least one independently controllable heating element (6); wherein the material (1) is heated to a critical temperature at which the surfaces (7) of the sand grains (1) become plastic and the sand grains (1) are expanded through the propellant. It is provided according to the invention that the material (1) is fed together with an amount of air from below, wherein the material (1) is conveyed from bottom to top along the conveying path (4) by means of the amount of air which flows from bottom to top within the furnace shaft (3) and forms an air flow (14), and wherein the expanding of the sand grains (1) occurs in the upper half, preferably in the uppermost third, of the conveying path (4).

Fibers of diverse materials find widespread use in inorganic binder compositions to improve the properties of the final cured composite materials. When using high amounts of fiber in inorganic binder slurries, problems arise due to the loss of workability because of unevenly distributed fiber content. The novel fibers according to the invention allow the use of large amounts of fiber without loss of workability and are particularly useful to control the rheology of the composite slurry mixtures.

A method for strengthening perlite microspheres may include providing a plurality of perlite microspheres, and heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600 C. for at least about five minutes to form strengthened perlite microspheres. A composition may include the strengthened perlite microspheres formed from the above-noted method. At least one of a drilling fluid and a well cement may include a slurry including at least one fluid, and a composition including strengthened perlite microspheres. A slurry may include at least one fluid and a plurality of perlite microspheres. The plurality of perlite microspheres may be strengthened by at least one of (1) heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600 C. for at least about five minutes: and (2) adding at least one metal component and at least one silicate component to the plurality of perlite microspheres.

A method for strengthening perlite microspheres may include providing a plurality of perlite microspheres, and heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600 C. for at least about five minutes to form strengthened perlite microspheres. A composition may include the strengthened perlite microspheres formed from the above-noted method. At least one of a drilling fluid and a well cement may include a slurry including at least one fluid, and a composition including strengthened perlite microspheres. A slurry may include at least one fluid and a plurality of perlite microspheres. The plurality of perlite microspheres may be strengthened by at least one of (1) heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600 C. for at least about five minutes: and (2) adding at least one metal component and at least one silicate component to the plurality of perlite microspheres.

A method for strengthening perlite microspheres may include providing a plurality of perlite microspheres, and heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600 C. for at least about five minutes to form strengthened perlite microspheres. A composition may include the strengthened perlite microspheres formed from the above-noted method. At least one of a drilling fluid and a well cement may include a slurry including at least one fluid, and a composition including strengthened perlite microspheres. A slurry may include at least one fluid and a plurality of perlite microspheres. The plurality of perlite microspheres may be strengthened by at least one of (1) heating the plurality of perlite microspheres at a temperature of at least about 600 C. for at least about five minutes: and (2) adding at least one metal component and at least one silicate component to the plurality of perlite microspheres.

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.

An apparatus including: (a) a fluid material conduit in fluid communication with a source of a fluid material, wherein the fluid material comprises unexpanded, expandable polymeric microspheres; (b) a treatment zone in heat transfer communication with a source of heat and in fluid communication with the fluid material conduit, such that the fluid material is directly or indirectly contacted by heat within the treatment zone; and (c) a back pressure generator in fluid communication with the treatment zone, capable of increasing pressure in the treatment zone, which results in expansion of the expandable polymeric microspheres when the fluid material exits the treatment zone.

The invention relates to a method for the expansion of sand grain-shaped raw material (1) in which the raw material drops downwards through a substantially vertical heated shaft (3) provided with means (2) for heating, in which a shaft flow (4) prevails and to a dosing element (6) which can be connected to a substantially vertical shaft (3) and a conveying line (7). In order to prevent the pressure fluctuations coming from the conveying line (7) in the area of the shaft (3), a dosing element (6) is attached between the shaft and the conveying (7) line, in which the quantity of granulate which goes over from the shaft (3) into the conveying line (7) is regulated via means for regulating so that a defined material collection of the granulate is formed as a buffer in the dosing element (6), which decouples the shaft flow (4) from the conveying flow.

Disclosed are an inorganic fireproof and heat-insulating material and an article thereof. The material comprises the following components in weight ratio: 5 parts of A component, 5.5-7 parts of a bonding agent, and 1-1.5 parts of a curing agent, wherein the A component comprises perlite and vermiculite in a weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. Both the perlite and vermiculite are in particle form after expansion, and the bonding agent is an inorganic bonding agent. The material is formed by mixing the abovementioned components, then pouring same into a forming mold, and pressing. The present invention has good fireproof performance and heat insulation performance. A fireproof and heat-insulating plate made by mixing the expanded perlite, vermiculite, and elutriated mud (i.e. pottery clay) improves the strength thereof, and satisfies the requirements for an external wall on waterproofing, fireproof and heat insulation.

Disclosed are an inorganic fireproof and heat-insulating material and an article thereof. The material comprises the following components in weight ratio: 5 parts of A component, 5.5-7 parts of a bonding agent, and 1-1.5 parts of a curing agent, wherein the A component comprises perlite and vermiculite in a weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. Both the perlite and vermiculite are in particle form after expansion, and the bonding agent is an inorganic bonding agent. The material is formed by mixing the abovementioned components, then pouring same into a forming mold, and pressing. The present invention has good fireproof performance and heat insulation performance. A fireproof and heat-insulating plate made by mixing the expanded perlite, vermiculite, and elutriated mud (i.e. pottery clay) improves the strength thereof, and satisfies the requirements for an external wall on waterproofing, fireproof and heat insulation.