The present invention relates to colored fiber cement products at least comprising: —a cementitious matrix comprising a black pigment and/or a colored pigment, and —synthetic fibers, characterized in that said synthetic fibers are pigmented with at least one white pigment. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of these colored fiber cement products as well as to uses thereof in the building industry.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for manufacturing an flooring element for indoor use comprising a cementitious binding material, a cellulosic fibre blend, wherein the cellulosic fibre blend comprises cellulosic fibres having a first degree of SR fineness and cellulosic fibres having a second degree of SR fineness, when measured according to ISO 5267-1, and wherein the first degree of SR fineness is in the range of from 5 to 45, preferably of from 20 to 40, and the second degree of SR fineness is in the range of from 45 to 80, preferably of from 50 to 70.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for manufacturing an flooring element for indoor use comprising a cementitious binding material, a cellulosic fibre blend, wherein the cellulosic fibre blend comprises cellulosic fibres having a first degree of SR fineness and cellulosic fibres having a second degree of SR fineness, when measured according to ISO 5267-1, and wherein the first degree of SR fineness is in the range of from 5 to 45, preferably of from 20 to 40, and the second degree of SR fineness is in the range of from 45 to 80, preferably of from 50 to 70.

A process is provided for producing a biomass-derived rheology modifier, comprising: providing a pretreated feedstock comprising cellulose-rich solids; refining the cellulose-rich solids in a first high-intensity refining unit, generating refined cellulose solids; gelling the refined cellulose solids in a second high-intensity refining unit, thereby generating gelled cellulose solids; and homogenizing the gelled cellulose solids in a high-shear homogenizer, thereby generating a biomass-derived rheology modifier. The pretreated feedstock may include kraft pulp, sulfite pulp, AVAP® pulp, soda pulp, mechanical pulp, thermomechanical pulp, and/or chemimechanical pulp, derived from wood or lignocellulosic biomass. The pretreated feedstock may be GP3+® pulp, obtained from steam or hot-water extraction of lignocellulosic biomass. These rheology modifiers may be utilized in a wide variety of applications, including water-based or oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations, as gelling agents. These rheology modifiers are biodegradable, and their production does not directly involve chemicals other than biomass and water.

A process is provided for producing a biomass-derived rheology modifier, comprising: providing a pretreated feedstock comprising cellulose-rich solids; refining the cellulose-rich solids in a first high-intensity refining unit, generating refined cellulose solids; gelling the refined cellulose solids in a second high-intensity refining unit, thereby generating gelled cellulose solids; and homogenizing the gelled cellulose solids in a high-shear homogenizer, thereby generating a biomass-derived rheology modifier. The pretreated feedstock may include kraft pulp, sulfite pulp, AVAP® pulp, soda pulp, mechanical pulp, thermomechanical pulp, and/or chemimechanical pulp, derived from wood or lignocellulosic biomass. The pretreated feedstock may be GP3+® pulp, obtained from steam or hot-water extraction of lignocellulosic biomass. These rheology modifiers may be utilized in a wide variety of applications, including water-based or oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations, as gelling agents. These rheology modifiers are biodegradable, and their production does not directly involve chemicals other than biomass and water.

The present invention relates to pale-colored fiber cement products at least comprising white cement and synthetic fibers, wherein the synthetic fibers are pigmented with at least one dark pigment chosen from the group consisting of a black pigment, a brown pigment, a blue pigment, a red pigment, a green pigment and a gray pigment. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of these pale-colored fiber cement products as well as to uses thereof in the building industry.

The present invention relates to pale-colored fiber cement products at least comprising white cement and synthetic fibers, wherein the synthetic fibers are pigmented with at least one dark pigment chosen from the group consisting of a black pigment, a brown pigment, a blue pigment, a red pigment, a green pigment and a gray pigment. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of these pale-colored fiber cement products as well as to uses thereof in the building industry.

Alkylsilicone resins containing at least 20 mol percent of siloxy units bearing a >C.sub.s alkyl group and having from 5-20 weight percent of alkoxy groups may be prepared directly by hydrolysis of chlorosilanes, and are highly effective as bulk hydrophobing agents in the preparation of fibrocement.

Alkylsilicone resins containing at least 20 mol percent of siloxy units bearing a >C.sub.s alkyl group and having from 5-20 weight percent of alkoxy groups may be prepared directly by hydrolysis of chlorosilanes, and are highly effective as bulk hydrophobing agents in the preparation of fibrocement.

A fiber cement material formulation comprising a cementitious binder, a siliceous material, fiber, alumina trihydrate and a bifunctional low density additive wherein the bifunctional low density additive comprises any one or more of diatomaceous earth, recycled autoclave fiber cement dust or cellulose dust. The fiber cement material formulation optionally further comprises a secondary low density additive which may be perlite. In some embodiments, a fiber cement article manufactured from the fiber cement material formulation comprises a density of approximately 1.1 g/cm.sup.3 or below.