The invention relates to a dark, flat element, preferably a plastic, lacquer coating or fiber material, having reduced density, low heat conductivity and low solar absorption. The flat element has a relatively high reflection infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum reduce heating by sunlight in the near infrared dark tinting in the visible range. Low density conductivity are obtained inter alia by inserting in the near in order to area despite and low heat light filling materials into the flat element. Said flat element can be used in places where surfaces are dark tinted for aesthetic or technical reasons but should not heat up in sunlight and should give off little heat when touched by hand or by other parts of the body. Other areas of application include surfaces which should have a heat insulating effect in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics.

A roof tile containing fibers which satisfy the following requirements (1) to (3): (1) to have an average fiber diameter of 50 m or less; (2) to have an aspect ratio of 50 to 2000; and (3) to have three or less buckled portions per fiber.

A composition comprising at least one binder coated with at least one metallate additive according to formula 1: (RO).sub.m-M-(O.sub.aX.sub.bR.sub.cY.sub.d).sub.n (formula 1), wherein M is one of titanium and zirconium. The composition is particularly useful in producing treated binders and construction materials, wherein the resulting treated binders and construction materials have advantageous properties, such as increased strength. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the inventive composition, treated binders and construction materials.

Disclosed is a construction material composition including a matrix predominantly containing an aluminum silicate compound, such as a metakaolin, and an alkaline activation solution. The composition is contains less than 10 wt. % cement or clinker and in that the metakaolin is a metakaolin obtained via flash calcination. The reaction between the components is carried out at a temperature less than 30 C. The method for manufacturing the construction material includes mixing the composition with various elements such as granulates, plant fibers, unfired clay, and expanding agents. It is particularly of use in producing floor, wall, or roof coating elements, prefabricated construction elements, or insulation, adhesive, or inorganic sealant modules.

Various cement-containing compositions are disclosed, to be made into forms, and prefabricated building materials produced from cement-containing compositions with insulating properties. Some of the preferred embodiments include expanded polystyrene and an acrylic component to provide enhanced insulating properties, or have a lower density, lighter weight, and increased insulating R-value in comparison with other cement-containing compositions.

The invention relates to a dark, flat element, preferably a plastic, lacquer coating or fiber material, having reduced density, low heat conductivity and low solar absorption. The flat element has a relatively high reflection infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum reduce heating by sunlight in the near infrared dark tinting in the visible range. Low density conductivity are obtained inter alia by inserting in the near in order to area despite and low heat light filling materials into the flat element. Said flat element can be used in places where surfaces are dark tinted for aesthetic or technical reasons but should not heat up in sunlight and should give off little heat when touched by hand or by other parts of the body. Other areas of application include surfaces which should have a heat insulating effect in addition to the above-mentioned characteristics.

A smart roof system and method comprising cementitious sheathing sheets for a roof cover that can be installed directly onto the wood roof sheathing of a structure or home. Said cementitious sheathing sheets are laid over wood roof sheathing directly with permanent adhesive. An aluminum expansion joint is installed to serve as an expansion joint between said cementitious sheathing sheets and to provide support for solar panels.

Aluminum expansion joints have a lower lip and an upper lip, a lower lip of the aluminum expansion joints serves to support cementitious sheathing sheets over the lower lip with adhesive and create a joint directly over the wood roof sheathing. The cementitious sheathing sheets are laid on the wood roof sheathing with an adhesive designed to adhere in a permanent manner to the cementitious sheathing sheets. A next cementitious sheet is then installed into the lower lip of the aluminum expansion joints and overlap on top of the previous cementitious sheet, bonding by the permanent adhesive. The procedure is repeated forming the roof from lower elevation to higher roof elevation, thereby water will flow over the overlapping sections of cementitious sheathing sheets.

An aqueous polymer composition and a coating composition comprising the aqueous polymer composition and affording coatings with improved efflorescence properties.

A roofing tile composed of concrete material and a method for producing such a roofing tile. The concrete material contains a binder, a gravel, a light-weight aggregate, and added water. The roofing tile has at least one watercourse and a lateral interlocking joint having a covering fold and a water fold. The ratio of water to binder is less than 0.3, the light-weight aggregate is composed of a material that is hydrophobic and/or not hygroscopic, and the roofing tile has a density in the range of 1.6 g/cm.sup.3 to 1.9 g/cm.sup.3 after the hardening. The roofing tile has a thickness of 5 mm to 9 mm, preferably 7 mm to 8 mm, in the highly loaded regions, preferably in the region of the watercourse.

A dry papercrete mix is formed by preparing a wet pulp of fiber material such as newsprint and sharp sand by mixing sand, fiber material and water in a batch or continuous mixer, drying the pulp to a moisture content below that which will cause a reaction with Portland cement and adding additional sands and/or pumice and Portland cement. The resulting dry, granular mix can then be handled stored and used in the manner which is conventional for concrete. The dry papercrete mix can also be applied by pouring the dry papercrete mix into a desired volume such as a form in a dry state and injecting water into the dry papercrete mix until the mix is sufficiently wetted without a requirement for mixing in the manner common for concrete. Structural modules and a technique for joining them into a structure are particularly appropriate to the use of dry application papercrete.