Ultra-high performance concrete produced from cement, aggregate, water, fillers, and additives, wherein the aggregate comprises 800-1,300 kg of an igneous rock in the form of crushed stone per cubic meter of concrete.

A liquid additive composition comprising a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant; wherein the particulate material is substantially insoluble in the organic carrier fluid; wherein the particulate material comprises a water-interactive material and/or a water-insoluble material; wherein the organic carrier fluid comprises a glycol and/or a glycol ether; and wherein the viscosifier comprises amorphous silica. A method comprising (a) contacting a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant to form a mixture; and (b) agitating the mixture to form the liquid additive composition.

A liquid additive composition comprising a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant; wherein the particulate material is substantially insoluble in the organic carrier fluid; wherein the particulate material comprises a water-interactive material and/or a water-insoluble material; wherein the organic carrier fluid comprises a glycol and/or a glycol ether; and wherein the viscosifier comprises amorphous silica. A method comprising (a) contacting a particulate material, an organic carrier fluid, a viscosifier, and an alcohol alkoxylate surfactant to form a mixture; and (b) agitating the mixture to form the liquid additive composition.

A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.

The present invention relates to fiber cement flooring products. In particular, the present invention provides fiber cement flooring products, at least comprising cement and fibers, characterized in that these fiber cement flooring products comprise amorphous silica in an amount of between about 2 weight % and about 15 weight % compared to the total dry weight of the fiber cement composition of said fiber cement flooring product. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of such fiber cement flooring products as well as uses of such fiber cement flooring products in the building industry. The present invention further relates to fiber cement formulations and fiber cement materials, which are suitable for the production of fiber cement products for flooring applications.

The present invention relates to fiber cement flooring products. In particular, the present invention provides fiber cement flooring products, at least comprising cement and fibers, characterized in that these fiber cement flooring products comprise amorphous silica in an amount of between about 2 weight % and about 15 weight % compared to the total dry weight of the fiber cement composition of said fiber cement flooring product. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of such fiber cement flooring products as well as uses of such fiber cement flooring products in the building industry. The present invention further relates to fiber cement formulations and fiber cement materials, which are suitable for the production of fiber cement products for flooring applications.

The present invention provides calcium sulphate-based product having reduced shrinkage after exposure to high temperatures, the product comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source (e.g. in an amount between 4-27 wt %) and a metal salt additive (in an amount between 0.5 and 10 wt %). The pozzolan source may be selected from a kaolinitic clay material, fly ash, rice husk ash, diatomaceous earths, volcanic ashes and pumices, micro-silica, silica fume and silicone oil. The metal salt additive may be a metal salt which decomposes between a temperature of 300-500° C. to yield a metal oxide, e.g. magnesium nitrate.

The present invention provides calcium sulphate-based product having reduced shrinkage after exposure to high temperatures, the product comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source (e.g. in an amount between 4-27 wt %) and a metal salt additive (in an amount between 0.5 and 10 wt %). The pozzolan source may be selected from a kaolinitic clay material, fly ash, rice husk ash, diatomaceous earths, volcanic ashes and pumices, micro-silica, silica fume and silicone oil. The metal salt additive may be a metal salt which decomposes between a temperature of 300-500° C. to yield a metal oxide, e.g. magnesium nitrate.

The present invention provides a wet press process and admixture components for making concrete slabs (flags) (16), curb (kerb) units, panels, boards, and other flat shapes, whereby colloidal silica and at least one alkanolamine and optional rheology control components are employed to provide an ideal combination of pressing time, green strength, surface definition, stack-ability, final concrete strength, and permeability. Stack-ability can be expressed in terms of minimum deflection or non-eccentricity of the units while standing on thickness edges at distances apart less than width or standing height. A wet press process typically involves introducing a highly fluid concrete mix into a mold (10,12), applying hydraulic pressure to consolidate the concrete (e.g., 1000-3000 PSI) and to extract excess water, removing the pressed concrete (16) while in a green state from the mold (10,12), and then standing the slab (16) units immediately upon removal from the mold (10,12) while in a green state, on an edge adjacent to but spaced apart from other edge-standing units. In further embodiments, rounded aggregates such as naturally occurring sand and/or gravel obtained from local sources can be incorporated into the concrete slabs without defeating (vertical) stack-ability in the green state.

The present invention provides a wet press process and admixture components for making concrete slabs (flags) (16), curb (kerb) units, panels, boards, and other flat shapes, whereby colloidal silica and at least one alkanolamine and optional rheology control components are employed to provide an ideal combination of pressing time, green strength, surface definition, stack-ability, final concrete strength, and permeability. Stack-ability can be expressed in terms of minimum deflection or non-eccentricity of the units while standing on thickness edges at distances apart less than width or standing height. A wet press process typically involves introducing a highly fluid concrete mix into a mold (10,12), applying hydraulic pressure to consolidate the concrete (e.g., 1000-3000 PSI) and to extract excess water, removing the pressed concrete (16) while in a green state from the mold (10,12), and then standing the slab (16) units immediately upon removal from the mold (10,12) while in a green state, on an edge adjacent to but spaced apart from other edge-standing units. In further embodiments, rounded aggregates such as naturally occurring sand and/or gravel obtained from local sources can be incorporated into the concrete slabs without defeating (vertical) stack-ability in the green state.