A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

Solar-reflective roofing granules having improved solar heat-resistance are formed by coating colored mineral particles with a coating composition including titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Solar-reflective roofing granules having improved solar heat-resistance are formed by coating colored mineral particles with a coating composition including titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

A method of creating a wood-based false stone for producing unique decorative cutouts and jewelry includes collecting a plurality of stems from a plant, cutting each of the plurality of stems to a uniform length, and debarking each of the plurality of stems. The debarked plurality of stems is then dyed, dried completely, and saturated with a resin. The saturated plurality of stems is placed in a mold and compressed. The compressed plurality of stems is removed from the mold and cut into a plurality of slices, each of which is in turn shaped into a plurality of cutouts.

A method of creating a wood-based false stone for producing unique decorative cutouts and jewelry includes collecting a plurality of stems from a plant, cutting each of the plurality of stems to a uniform length, and debarking each of the plurality of stems. The debarked plurality of stems is then dyed, dried completely, and saturated with a resin. The saturated plurality of stems is placed in a mold and compressed. The compressed plurality of stems is removed from the mold and cut into a plurality of slices, each of which is in turn shaped into a plurality of cutouts.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

A solar heat-reflective roofing product includes a base sheet, and solar heat-reflective roofing granules on top of the base sheet. The granules have a base particle with a flake-like geometry covered by a uniform coating layer. The coating layer has a thickness of at least one mil and includes a coating binder and at least one solar heat-reflective pigment. The solar heat-reflective pigment provides a solar heat reflectance of greater than 70 percent to the granules and the roofing product. Roofing products including roofing shingles and roofing membranes are described.

Dark colored roofing granules include an inert base particle coated with a composition including a metal silicate, a non-clay latent heat reactant, and a dark colored but solar reflective pigment.

Dark colored roofing granules include an inert base particle coated with a composition including a metal silicate, a non-clay latent heat reactant, and a dark colored but solar reflective pigment.

Polyurethane composites and methods of preparation are described herein. The polyurethane composites 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) a particulate filler having a bulk density of 1 g/cm.sup.3 or greater, (c) optionally a fiber material, and (d) a lightweight filler having a bulk density from 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 to less than 1 g/cm.sup.3. In some examples, the lightweight filler can be selected from expanded perlite, expanded clay, foamed glass, and combinations thereof. Articles such as building materials comprising the polyurethane composites are also disclosed.