Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

An interlocking system of modular units engageable to form vertically and horizontally stable assemblies. The modular units include blocks and modular panels, each having vertical and optional horizontal bores that provide passage for plumbing, electrical wiring, and other connectivity. The modular units may be formed of lightweight cementitious materials, and may find use in assemblies such as walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and entire building structures.

A method of manufacturing inorganic binder by reduction furnace slag includes a raw material preparation step, a stirring step, a maintaining step and a drying step. The raw material preparation step is to provide a powder mixture containing 30 wt % to 55 wt % of reduction furnace slag, and 45 wt % to 70 wt % of glass powder. The stirring step is to place the powder mixture in a mixing tank, and add an alkali activator to the mixing tank to stir and react to form mixed slurry. The alkali equivalent (AE) of the mixed slurry is 2% to 7%, and the water-binder ratio is 0.25 to 0.4. The maintaining step is to place the mixed slurry in a high-temperature and high pressure maintaining environment for a maintaining time to get a binder. The drying step is to dry the binder.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Glass composite coating systems herein may be used for industrial applications serving as a chemical barrier against substrate oxidation or other deterioration by corrosive agents, may prevent material build-up in process piping and equipment, may provide for improved bonding strength between concrete and reinforcing media, and may inhibit microbial build-up on exposed surfaces. Traditionally, glass coatings are emplaced on relatively pristine, pre-prepared surfaces. Glass composite coating systems described herein may be bonded to untreated substrates, without the need to clean, polish and/or pre-treat the substrate.

Glass composite coating systems herein may be used for industrial applications serving as a chemical barrier against substrate oxidation or other deterioration by corrosive agents, may prevent material build-up in process piping and equipment, may provide for improved bonding strength between concrete and reinforcing media, and may inhibit microbial build-up on exposed surfaces. Traditionally, glass coatings are emplaced on relatively pristine, pre-prepared surfaces. Glass composite coating systems described herein may be bonded to untreated substrates, without the need to clean, polish and/or pre-treat the substrate.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a coating composition. The coating composition comprises photocatalytic particles and an alkali metal silicate binder comprising an alkoxysilane. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a coated article. The coated article has a photocatalytic coating with improved durability on its external surface that is formed from the aforesaid coating composition.

The present disclosure relates to roofing granules, such as solar-reflective roofing granules having one or more of low crystalline silica content, high stain resistance and algae resistance. The present disclosure provides a mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay, the first fired material having no more than 2 wt % crystalline silica. The present disclosure also provides a mineral roofing granule having a mineral body and a mineral outer surface, the mineral roofing granule having at its mineral outer surface a first fired material, the first fired material being a first fired mixture comprising an aluminosilicate clay; one or more of a feldspar, a sodium silicate and a nepheline syenite; and, optionally, a zinc source.