The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of articles made of conglomerate material, more particularly in the form of slabs or blocks, starting from a mixture comprising an optionally expanded granulate of stone material or lithoid material, and a binder based on a resin obtained from acrylate vegetal oils. The present invention also relates to the articles thus obtained.

Gypsum panels, sheathing systems, and methods of making and using the same are provided. A gypsum panel includes a gypsum core associated with a first fiberglass mat having a continuous barrier coating, the coating penetrating a portion of the first fiberglass mat opposite the gypsum core, wherein gypsum penetrates a remaining fibrous portion of the first fiberglass mat such that voids in the first fiberglass mat are substantially eliminated. A building sheathing system includes at least two gypsum panels and a seaming component to provide a seam at an interface between the gypsum panels.

A process (method, system, etc.) for the manufacturing of slabs made of resin-bonded mineral grits comprises at least the phases of: supply of at least one mixture made of mineral grits and resins; compaction of the mineral grits and resins to obtain a compacted slab; hardening of the compacted slab to obtain a finished slab provided with at least one exposed surface and having an intrinsic degree of porosity; decoration with ink by digital printing of the exposed surface according to at least one predefined design; and, prior to the decoration and subsequently to the hardening, at least one phase of increase in the intrinsic degree of porosity of the finished slab, adapted to promote the penetration of the ink in the finished slab.

A process (method, system, etc.) for the manufacturing of slabs made of resin-bonded mineral grits comprises at least the phases of: supply of at least one mixture made of mineral grits and resins; compaction of the mineral grits and resins to obtain a compacted slab; hardening of the compacted slab to obtain a finished slab provided with at least one exposed surface and having an intrinsic degree of porosity; decoration with ink by digital printing of the exposed surface according to at least one predefined design; and, prior to the decoration and subsequently to the hardening, at least one phase of increase in the intrinsic degree of porosity of the finished slab, adapted to promote the penetration of the ink in the finished slab.

The invention relates to the manufacture of a reinforced slab-shaped building element (E) having a length (L), a width (W) and a thickness, said slab-shaped building element (E) comprising an upper concrete plate anchored to a lower concrete plate with a top surface and a bottom surface, said upper concrete plate being cast from relatively higher strength concrete laid out upon said top surface, said lower concrete plate being of a less strong concrete, said lower concrete plate including a base contiguous with a plurality of raised portions integral therewith, said raised portions being spaced apart in the direction of said length (L) and said width (W), said plurality of raised portions defining between them a network of recesses, at least some of said recesses including reinforcing bars (R), said raised portions and said recesses together defining said top surface.

A method of slip forming a concrete structure can include using a first slip form mold that travels along a path to form a portion of a concrete structure by delivering a first flow of concrete into the first mold through a first hopper. The first hopper can be configured to receive the first flow of concrete. The portion of the concrete structure can be modified using a second slip form mold different from the first mold by advancing the second mold along the concrete structure and, while advancing the second mold, delivering a second flow of concrete into the second mold through a second hopper that is configured to receive the second flow of concrete.

A method and an apparatus for casting concrete products with a substantially horizontal slipform casting process, where concrete mass is fed under pressure through a restricted cross-section defining the product to be cast, wherein the upper surface of the restricted cross-section is formed of a plurality of sections, which sections are moved in back and forth trowelling motion in the casting direction, wherein the adjacent sections are moved at different phases and/or at different speeds.

Gypsum panels, sheathing systems, and methods of making and using the same are provided. A gypsum panel includes a gypsum core associated with a first fiberglass mat having a continuous barrier coating, the coating penetrating a portion of the first fiberglass mat opposite the gypsum core, wherein gypsum penetrates a remaining fibrous portion of the first fiberglass mat such that voids in the first fiberglass mat are substantially eliminated. A building sheathing system includes at least two gypsum panels and a seaming component to provide a seam at an interface between the gypsum panels.

A method for preparation of a mold (10) intended to form a slab from a mixture of agglomerate comprising the steps of depositing over the mold surfaces a sheet (15) of PVA-based plastic material so as to form with it a surface for subsequent contact with the mixture introduced into the mold for forming the slab, whereby in at least some areas a layer (14) of a fluid agent containing PVA in a solution is interposed between the sheet (15) and the mold surfaces. A plant for carrying out the method and a method for production of a slab are also described.

Methods for improved ceramics component casting. One such method may include vacuuming a ceramic-based slurry mixture and/or vacuuming a component mold. The vacuuming of the ceramic-based slurry mixture and the component mold may be to remove air bubbles from the respective elements. More specifically, the vacuuming may remove air bubbles from the ceramic-based slurry mixture and from a cavity of the component mold, respectively. The method may also include disposing the ceramic-based slurry mixture into the cavity of the component mold, and continuously vacuuming the cavity of the component mold including the ceramic-based slurry mixture for a predetermined time to remove any additional air bubbles included in the ceramic-based slurry mixture. Finally, the method may include forming a ceramic component within the continuously vacuumed cavity of the component mold over the duration of the predetermined time. The ceramic component formed from the ceramic-based slurry mixture.