The present invention provides a concrete vacuum tube segment for a hyper-speed transportation system using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and a manufacturing method thereof. A concrete vacuum tube segment for a hyper-speed transportation system can be easily manufactured using UHPC, in which shrinkage and structural cracking do not occur due to mixing a binder and a short fiber to secure airtightness on the basis of a maximum fill theory, and accordingly, shrinkage of the concrete vacuum tube segment can be reduced even in a partial-vacuum state in which the magnitude of drying shrinkage is very small and quick drying occurs; when mixing the UHPC, an antifoaming agent is mixed and a circular vacuum pump is used to remove generated entrapped air to minimize the entrapped air; and a capsule-type crack healing material, which is able to repair fine cracks, is compacted to secure airtightness of the concrete vacuum tube segment.

Provided is a method for altering properties of tension programmed fibrous shape memory polymer. The method can include applying a protective coating to the tension programmed shape memory polymer, then applying a supportive coating to the tension programmed shape memory polymer to form a coated fiber. The protective coating avoids contact between the shape memory polymer and chemicals used in the supportive coating that can decompensate the shape memory polymer.

Roofing granules include heat-treated, porous, mineral-based granules having a moisture absorption of at least seven percent by weight and a blend of such heat-treated, porous, mineral-based granules and additional granules having a moisture absorption of less than five percent by weight. Use of the granules as roofing granules is also disclosed. A construction article includes a substrate, an organic coating, and heat-treated, porous, mineral-based aggregate having a moisture absorption of at least seven percent by weight at least partially embedded in the organic coating. A method of making the construction article is also disclosed.

A low-dust composite building product is provided. The low-dust composite building product includes a binder system comprising one or more of a thermoset resin, a diluent, and a hardener; and a low-dust filler material comprising filler particles that have been pre-coated with a coating agent comprising one or more of the thermoset resin, the diluent, and the hardener from the binder system.

A low-dust composite building product is provided. The low-dust composite building product includes a binder system comprising one or more of a thermoset resin, a diluent, and a hardener; and a low-dust filler material comprising filler particles that have been pre-coated with a coating agent comprising one or more of the thermoset resin, the diluent, and the hardener from the binder system.

An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.

An insulation medium invention includes a plurality of microspheres. Each microsphere comprises a porous core comprising a porous core material and having an exterior surface, a gas within the porous core, and a coating layer coating all of the exterior surface of the porous core. The coating layer comprises a coating material which transitions from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the coating material is permeable to the gas. In the second state the material is impermeable to the gas. The coating material in the second state is configured to encapsulate and maintain partial vacuum of the gas inside the porous core. In one embodiment, in the second state the coating is impermeable to air. Insulated structures, a method of making an insulation medium, a fluid storage media, and a method of delivering a fluid are also disclosed.

A polymer concrete composition has a base composition including a first isocyanate component and a first isocyanate reactive component, and one or more pre-coated aggregates that each has a base substrate and a two-component reaction product polymeric coating on an outer surface of the base substrate. The polymeric coating is the reaction product of a second isocyanate component and a second isocyanate-reactive component.

A polymer concrete composition has a base composition including a first isocyanate component and a first isocyanate reactive component, and one or more pre-coated aggregates that each has a base substrate and a two-component reaction product polymeric coating on an outer surface of the base substrate. The polymeric coating is the reaction product of a second isocyanate component and a second isocyanate-reactive component.

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.