An investment powder which is safer than conventional powders comprising tricalcium phosphate, and being substantially or entirely free of free silica in the respiratory portion yet providing an overall expansion at 750° C. of 1% or higher sufficient to prevent mould cracking during casting. A method of making a casting comprising forming a slurry by mixing a gypsum bonded investment powder with water, pouring the slurry into a stainless steel flask around a low melting point material model, allowing the slurry to set to define a mould, heating the mould to burn out the model and casting material into the mould wherein the stainless steel flask consists of a 400 series martensitic stainless steel.

A thermal insulation material, a process for producing the thermal insulation material and an application process of the material on surfaces is disclosed. The thermal insulation material contains 30-90 wt % aluminum silicate source and 1-30 wt % inorganic hollow material particles. The aluminum silicate source has fly ash and/or clay based material.

A thermal insulation material, a process for producing the thermal insulation material and an application process of the material on surfaces is disclosed. The thermal insulation material contains 30-90 wt % aluminum silicate source and 1-30 wt % inorganic hollow material particles. The aluminum silicate source has fly ash and/or clay based material.

This disclosure provides products useful as construction materials and containing set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite, including a gypsum panel having a gypsum core comprising set gypsum and ammonium-exchanged vermiculite and characterized by decreased heat shrinkage and increased resistance to fire damage in comparison to the gypsum panel that comprises vermiculite that has not been ammonium-exchanged. The disclosure further relates to methods for producing the gypsum panel and constructing building assemblies with the gypsum panels, including walls and ceilings.

Various cement-containing compositions are disclosed, including insulating cement, 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.

Various cement-containing compositions are disclosed, including insulating cement, 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.

Latex-based formulations for coating and sculpting applications may provide blending a wet mixture with a dry mixture or blending a wet composition with a dry powder. The formulation may then be applied to a surface. In some embodiments, after the formulation is applied to a surface, the formulation may be set to the surface by covering the formulation applied to the surface with a material and/or the formulation may be self-setting on the surface. The formulation may fill gaps in the surface, thereby reducing cracks and shrinkage of the surface. The formulation may be applied to surfaces in a plurality of applications that may include, but are not limited to, sculpting, molding, and cosmetic repairs.

Latex-based formulations for coating and sculpting applications may provide blending a wet mixture with a dry mixture or blending a wet composition with a dry powder. The formulation may then be applied to a surface. In some embodiments, after the formulation is applied to a surface, the formulation may be set to the surface by covering the formulation applied to the surface with a material and/or the formulation may be self-setting on the surface. The formulation may fill gaps in the surface, thereby reducing cracks and shrinkage of the surface. The formulation may be applied to surfaces in a plurality of applications that may include, but are not limited to, sculpting, molding, and cosmetic repairs.

A heat insulating plate (1), preferably a covering plate (5a;b), especially for thermal isolation of molten metal, especially of molten steel, in a metallurgical vessel (6), wherein the plate (3) includes a binding agent matrix (2) of at least one, set, temporary, organic binding material and aggregate grains (3) with and/or of biogenic silicic acid, preferably with and/or of rice husk ash, which grains (3) are incorporated into the binding agent matrix (2), and to a method for production of the plate (1) and its use.

A heat insulating plate (1), preferably a covering plate (5a;b), especially for thermal isolation of molten metal, especially of molten steel, in a metallurgical vessel (6), wherein the plate (3) includes a binding agent matrix (2) of at least one, set, temporary, organic binding material and aggregate grains (3) with and/or of biogenic silicic acid, preferably with and/or of rice husk ash, which grains (3) are incorporated into the binding agent matrix (2), and to a method for production of the plate (1) and its use.