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.

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.

A heat insulating material is a sheet including a fiber and an aerogel. The fiber is aligned in a certain direction in the sheet. A heat insulating structure is used that includes: a high-temperature unit; a low-temperature; and the heat insulating material joining the high-temperature unit and the low-temperature to each other. The certain direction of the heat insulating material is a direction in which the high-temperature unit and the low-temperature unit are joined to each other. A heat insulating structure is used that includes: a first battery cell; a second battery cell; the heat insulating material disposed between the first battery cell and the second battery cell; and a cooling plate that is in contact with the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the heat insulating material.

The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for producing hydrophobized fiber cement sheets as well as fiber cement sheets obtainable therewith. In particular, the present invention provides processes for manufacturing a hydrophobized fiber cement product, said process at least comprising the steps of: (i) forming at least one fiber cement film on a rotating sieve in contact with a fiber cement slurry in a vat; (ii) transferring said at least one fiber cement film from said sieve to a felt transport belt, (iii) applying a mist of a hydrophobizing agent to said at least one fiber cement film, and (iv) accumulating the fiber cement film on an accumulator roll via the felt transport belt, so as to form a hydrophobized fiber cement product. The present invention further relates to various uses of the fiber cement sheets obtainable by the processes of the invention in the building industry.

The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for producing hydrophobized fiber cement sheets as well as fiber cement sheets obtainable therewith. In particular, the present invention provides processes for manufacturing a hydrophobized fiber cement product, said process at least comprising the steps of: (i) forming at least one fiber cement film on a rotating sieve in contact with a fiber cement slurry in a vat; (ii) transferring said at least one fiber cement film from said sieve to a felt transport belt, (iii) applying a mist of a hydrophobizing agent to said at least one fiber cement film, and (iv) accumulating the fiber cement film on an accumulator roll via the felt transport belt, so as to form a hydrophobized fiber cement product. The present invention further relates to various uses of the fiber cement sheets obtainable by the processes of the invention in the building industry.

A method of making a lithium alkylsiliconate composition comprising adding an alkylalkoxysilane to a first mixture comprising lithium hydroxide and water to form a second mixture comprising a lithium alkylsiliconate and an alcohol, wherein i) the mole ratio of lithium hydroxide to alkylalkoxysilane is from 0.9 to less than 1.1 and the water is from 89 to 93 mol %, or ii) the mole ratio of lithium hydroxide to alkylalkoxysilane is from 1.1 to 1.4 and the water is from greater than 93 to 99 mole %.

A sealer composition for a cementitious substrate, a cementitious structure sealed with the sealer composition, and a method of sealing a steel reinforced cementitious structure with the sealer composition. The sealer composition includes a substantially non-aqueous blend of a first silane, a second silane having a higher molecular weight than the first silane, and a corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor is soluble in silane, soluble in solvent-diluted silane, and at least partially soluble in water. The cementitious structure includes a cementitious substrate and the sealer applied to the surface of the substrate and at least partially penetrating into the substrate. The method of sealing a steel reinforced cementitious structure from intrusion of corrosion-causing agents includes applying the sealer to the surface of a steel reinforced cementitious substrate and permitting the sealer composition to penetrate into the substrate to seal the substrate.

A sealer composition for a cementitious substrate, a cementitious structure sealed with the sealer composition, and a method of sealing a steel reinforced cementitious structure with the sealer composition. The sealer composition includes a substantially non-aqueous blend of a first silane, a second silane having a higher molecular weight than the first silane, and a corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor is soluble in silane, soluble in solvent-diluted silane, and at least partially soluble in water. The cementitious structure includes a cementitious substrate and the sealer applied to the surface of the substrate and at least partially penetrating into the substrate. The method of sealing a steel reinforced cementitious structure from intrusion of corrosion-causing agents includes applying the sealer to the surface of a steel reinforced cementitious substrate and permitting the sealer composition to penetrate into the substrate to seal the substrate.

An improved water-resistant gypsum product prepared with a high-viscosity siloxane is provided. A fuel-efficient method for making the product and reducing the amount of siloxane dust released is provided as well.

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.