This gel-form composition contains (A) an organoalkoxysilane of the following formula and/or a partially hydrolyzed condensate of the organoalkoxysilane, R.sup.1.sub.aSi(OR.sup.2).sub.4-a (R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are monovalent hydrocarbon groups, and a is 1, 2, or 3), (B) an aluminum dicarboxylate of the following formula (R.sup.3COO).sub.2Al(OH) (R.sup.3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group), (C) a C6-24 fatty acid, (D) a C6-30 dicarboxylic acid, and (E) an aluminum oligomer and/or aluminum alkoxide selected from aluminum oxide organoxides and aluminum oxide acylates. It is thereby possible to: obtain a water absorption inhibitor that imparts an excellent water absorption-inhibiting property to the surfaces of porous materials; and provide a method for imparting a water absorption-inhibiting property by applying the water absorption inhibitor to the surface of a porous material, and a porous material that is surface-treated by the water absorption inhibitor.

According to the present disclosure, methods and techniques for generating preferred concrete block products are provided. The methods and techniques involve providing addition of color to selected section within the blocks (1), as described herein, to generate enhancement effects. Typical applications involve spray applications for color pigment to visually distinct sections of the block (1) on one or more decorative surfaces.

A fireproof, translucent, flexible coated fabric composite materials for use in fire curtains. The composite material meets or exceeds regulatory requirements in terms of fire endurance and allows transmissivity of necessary amounts of light. The process of the present disclosure combines a silica fabric with a special refractory index controlled resin. This unique combination of materials can transform an opaque high temperature fabric into a translucent, and even transparent, composite which as the ability to resist high temperature, flame and smoke penetration that fills a needed gap in technology between visibility and fire resistance in the field of fire and smoke curtains used in civil construction.

A fireproof, translucent, flexible coated fabric composite materials for use in fire curtains. The composite material meets or exceeds regulatory requirements in terms of fire endurance and allows transmissivity of necessary amounts of light. The process of the present disclosure combines a silica fabric with a special refractory index controlled resin. This unique combination of materials can transform an opaque high temperature fabric into a translucent, and even transparent, composite which as the ability to resist high temperature, flame and smoke penetration that fills a needed gap in technology between visibility and fire resistance in the field of fire and smoke curtains used in civil construction.

A method for producing a printed concrete element, in particular a printed concrete block, a printed concrete slab or a printed concrete step, is described, comprising at least the following steps: filling concrete into a mold to form a concrete element; printing at least one surface area of the concrete element with a printing composition comprising a binder A and a dye B, the binder A containing at least one siloxane and at least one silane; and curing the concrete element after printing.

A method for producing a printed concrete element, in particular a printed concrete block, a printed concrete slab or a printed concrete step, is described, comprising at least the following steps: filling concrete into a mold to form a concrete element; printing at least one surface area of the concrete element with a printing composition comprising a binder A and a dye B, the binder A containing at least one siloxane and at least one silane; and curing the concrete element after printing.

Disclosed are methods of protecting porous substrates and/or increasing the peel-resistance of coatings and stains for porous substrates. The methods may include providing a stain or coating comprising a microencapsulated self-healing material; and applying the stain or coating to a porous substrate. Damage to the stain or coating may release the self-healing material at a site of damage, such as a crack or scratch in the stain or coating. The self-healing material may be a polymeric precursor, an unsaturated polyester resin or alkyd, a fatty acid-based natural oil or derivative thereof, or a cross-linkable silane or siloxane monomer or resin. The microencapsulated self-healing material may include a microcapsule having a shell wall that includes a thermosetting polymer or a thermoplastic polymer; the thermosetting polymer may include urea-formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, polyurethane, polyurea, or polyacrylate; and the thermoplastic polymer comprises poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(lactic acid), or poly(glycolic acid).

A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10.sup.2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

A process for treating a substrate made of stone material, preferably in the form of slabs, is provided which process improves the mechanical, thermal and catalytic properties of the substrate. The process includes applying a protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate made of stone material and, to improve adhesion of the protective coating to the outer surface of the substrate, preliminarily subjecting the substrate to one or more pre-treatment steps that eliminate or reduce the presence of pollutants and porosity on the surface of the substrate. The pre-treatment of the substrate made of stone material comprises at least one step of treatment under vacuum conditions inside an autoclave, preferably under pressure conditions lower than 10.sup.2 mbar. Then, after having brought the substrate back to ambient pressure, it is possible to apply and effectively adhere the protective coating to the surface of the stone material.

Process for the production of a hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding is brought into contact with a hydrophobizing agent in vapour form with formation of a thermal-insulation moulding coated with hydrophobizing agent, and this is then subjected to a press process and during the press process and/or after the press process is reacted with the hydrophobizing agent with formation of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding, where a) the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding after the press process and after the reaction with the hydrophobizing agent is from 100 to 250 kg/m.sup.3, and b) the density of the hydrophilic thermal-insulation moulding on contact with the hydrophobizing agent is from 50% to less than 100% of the density of the hydrophobic thermal-insulation moulding.