A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, a super absorbent polymer (insoluble in water, but absorbing water), or another polymer such as the acrylamides, co-polymers thereof, polyacrylamides, or the like (soluble in water). The coating absorbs water, but particles are too small to form significant voids. Water is absorbed into the concrete mix in far greater proportions (e.g. w/c ratio over 0.5) improving workability, doubling workability time, and improving ultimate compressive stress (strength).

A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, a super absorbent polymer (insoluble in water, but absorbing water), or another polymer such as the acrylamides, co-polymers thereof, polyacrylamides, or the like (soluble in water). The coating absorbs water, but particles are too small to form significant voids. Water is absorbed into the concrete mix in far greater proportions (e.g. w/c ratio over 0.5) improving workability, doubling workability time, and improving ultimate compressive stress (strength).

The present invention provides fiber cement articles, such as roof tiles having improved impact and hail resistance and methods for making them. The fiber cement articles comprise cement, an optional filler, reinforcing fibers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers or a mixture of cellulosic and synthetic fibers, one or more core-shell aqueous emulsion polymers having a crosslinked rubbery core with a calculated glass transition temperature (calculated Tg) of from −20 to −140° C., and an at least partially grafted acrylic or vinyl shell polymer having a calculated Tg of from 20 to 170° C., and having a Z-average primary particle size of from 55 to 800 nm, or, preferably, from 140 to 650 nm. The solids weight ratio of the crosslinked rubbery core to the shell of the core-shell aqueous emulsion polymer may range from 85:20 to 97:3.

The present invention provides fiber cement articles, such as roof tiles having improved impact and hail resistance and methods for making them. The fiber cement articles comprise cement, an optional filler, reinforcing fibers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers or a mixture of cellulosic and synthetic fibers, one or more core-shell aqueous emulsion polymers having a crosslinked rubbery core with a calculated glass transition temperature (calculated Tg) of from −20 to −140° C., and an at least partially grafted acrylic or vinyl shell polymer having a calculated Tg of from 20 to 170° C., and having a Z-average primary particle size of from 55 to 800 nm, or, preferably, from 140 to 650 nm. The solids weight ratio of the crosslinked rubbery core to the shell of the core-shell aqueous emulsion polymer may range from 85:20 to 97:3.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic board suitable for achieving high specific strength and high freeze-thaw resistance as well as weight reduction and a method for producing the inorganic board. An inorganic board X1 according to the present invention includes a cured layer 11 that includes an inorganic cured matrix, an organic reinforcement material dispersed therein, and a hollow body that is attached to the organic reinforcement material and is smaller than the maximum length of the organic reinforcement material. A method for producing an inorganic board according to the present invention includes a first step of preparing a first mixture through mixing of an organic reinforcement material and a hollow body smaller than the maximum length of the organic reinforcement material, a second step of preparing a second mixture through mixing of the first mixture, a hydraulic material, and a siliceous material, and a third step of forming a second mixture mat by depositing the second mixture.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inorganic board suitable for achieving high specific strength and high freeze-thaw resistance as well as weight reduction and a method for producing the inorganic board. An inorganic board X1 according to the present invention includes a cured layer 11 that includes an inorganic cured matrix, an organic reinforcement material dispersed therein, and a hollow body that is attached to the organic reinforcement material and is smaller than the maximum length of the organic reinforcement material. A method for producing an inorganic board according to the present invention includes a first step of preparing a first mixture through mixing of an organic reinforcement material and a hollow body smaller than the maximum length of the organic reinforcement material, a second step of preparing a second mixture through mixing of the first mixture, a hydraulic material, and a siliceous material, and a third step of forming a second mixture mat by depositing the second mixture.

A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance includes disposing hollow glass spheres within a rotating drum, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the hollow glass spheres. An anchor material is disposed within the rotating drum. The hollow glass spheres and the anchor material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the anchor material is mixed with the hollow glass spheres to partially occupy the interstitial spaces. A silica-based material is disposed within the rotating drum. The silica-based material is mixed with the anchor material and the hollow glass spheres to define a super-insulating material, wherein the silica-based material attaches to the anchor material and is entrapped within the interstitial spaces. The silica-based material and the anchor material occupy substantially all of an interstitial volume defined by the interstitial spaces.

A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure for an appliance includes disposing hollow glass spheres within a rotating drum, wherein a plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the hollow glass spheres. An anchor material is disposed within the rotating drum. The hollow glass spheres and the anchor material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the anchor material is mixed with the hollow glass spheres to partially occupy the interstitial spaces. A silica-based material is disposed within the rotating drum. The silica-based material is mixed with the anchor material and the hollow glass spheres to define a super-insulating material, wherein the silica-based material attaches to the anchor material and is entrapped within the interstitial spaces. The silica-based material and the anchor material occupy substantially all of an interstitial volume defined by the interstitial spaces.

Disclosed are modified expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles and a modification method thereof, and concrete containing the modified EPS particles and a preparation method thereof, relating to the technical field of inorganic building materials. The modification method of the EPS particles includes following steps: (1) spraying adhesive materials on surfaces of the EPS particles in a stirring state, and obtaining the EPS particles with the adhesive materials attached to the surfaces; and (2) mixing the EPS particles attached with the adhesive materials with inorganic mixed materials to obtain the modified EPS particles. The preparation method of modified EPS concrete includes: mixing the modified EPS particles with a cementitious material, adding an admixture and water, and uniformly stirring to obtain the modified EPS concrete.

Disclosed are a crack self-healing agent for cement-based materials capable of binding corrosive ions in seawater, and a preparation method thereof. A core material of the agent is an active inorganic composite component capable of chemically binding Cl, Mg, and S, a wall layer is polymethyl methacrylate, and an interface improvement layer is a cement layer. A preparation method includes: (1) thoroughly mixing active components capable of binding corrosive ions, and filling a resulting mixture into a direct compression mold; (2) applying a pressure to the direct compression mold and holding the pressure on using a pressing machine, and demolding to obtain a core material body; (3) placing the core material body obtained in a solution of PMMA in acetone for coating, and taking out the core material body and drying; (4) coating a layer of cement before the acetone is completely volatilized to obtain the crack self-healing agent.