A method includes: providing a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, wherein each mold cavity is bounded by a plurality of faces joined along common edges; filling at least some of the mold cavities with a sol-gel composition that includes a release agent dispersed therein; at least partially drying the sol-gel composition thereby forming shaped ceramic precursor particles; calcining at least a portion of the shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles; and sintering at least a portion of the calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide ceramic shaped abrasive particles. A sol-gel composition, shaped ceramic precursor particles, and ceramic shaped abrasive particles associated with practice of the method are also disclosed.

A prefabricated form for use in constructing a casting cured concrete curb having a plurality of engaging pieces in which adjacent engaging pieces are abutted. Each of the engaging pieces has a fixing rod insertion hole formed therein. A plurality of spacer insertion holes are formed longitudinally and aligned respectively with the fixing rod insertion holes. The plurality of plate-shaped lower spacers are received respectively of the plurality of spacer insertion holes. Fixing rods are respectively inserted into the fixing rod insertion hole so as to engage the plate-shaped lower spacers. A plurality of upper spacers are engaged with the upper ends of the fixing rods so as to fix the engaging pieces in spaced relation to each other.

A prefabricated form for use in constructing a casting cured concrete curb having a plurality of engaging pieces in which adjacent engaging pieces are abutted. Each of the engaging pieces has a fixing rod insertion hole formed therein. A plurality of spacer insertion holes are formed longitudinally and aligned respectively with the fixing rod insertion holes. The plurality of plate-shaped lower spacers are received respectively of the plurality of spacer insertion holes. Fixing rods are respectively inserted into the fixing rod insertion hole so as to engage the plate-shaped lower spacers. A plurality of upper spacers are engaged with the upper ends of the fixing rods so as to fix the engaging pieces in spaced relation to each other.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing prism-shaped panels (1), each comprising through portions (55) made of translucent material adapted to transmit light between two opposite sides of the panel. The method includes arranging a plurality of elements (5, 5′, 5″) made of translucent material in a formwork so that the main direction of development (500) of such elements is parallel to the vertical direction of development (203) of the formwork. The method includes pouring cementitious mortar into said formwork (4) so that said cementitious mortar is distributed between said elements and so as to generate, after the hardening of said cementitious mortar, a substantially prism-shaped semi-finished cementitious mortar product (2) in which said elements made of translucent material are incorporated. The method further includes extracting the semi-finished product from said formwork after the hardening of the cementitious mortar, and cutting the semi-finished product according to cutting planes orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (500) in which the elements incorporated in said semi-finished product develop, so as to obtain prism-shaped parts, each of which corresponds to one of said panels (1).

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing prism-shaped panels (1), each comprising through portions (55) made of translucent material adapted to transmit light between two opposite sides of the panel. The method includes arranging a plurality of elements (5, 5′, 5″) made of translucent material in a formwork so that the main direction of development (500) of such elements is parallel to the vertical direction of development (203) of the formwork. The method includes pouring cementitious mortar into said formwork (4) so that said cementitious mortar is distributed between said elements and so as to generate, after the hardening of said cementitious mortar, a substantially prism-shaped semi-finished cementitious mortar product (2) in which said elements made of translucent material are incorporated. The method further includes extracting the semi-finished product from said formwork after the hardening of the cementitious mortar, and cutting the semi-finished product according to cutting planes orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (500) in which the elements incorporated in said semi-finished product develop, so as to obtain prism-shaped parts, each of which corresponds to one of said panels (1).

A precast concrete floor panel having stems molded in a mold with stem mold cavities and a deck. The deck can be formed in the same mold that includes the stem mold cavities or the concrete for the deck can be poured and cured on-site after the stems have been removed from the mold. The mold can include mold segments made from an insulating material that can remain attached to the stems to insulate the finished floor panel.

A precast concrete floor panel having stems molded in a mold with stem mold cavities and a deck. The deck can be formed in the same mold that includes the stem mold cavities or the concrete for the deck can be poured and cured on-site after the stems have been removed from the mold. The mold can include mold segments made from an insulating material that can remain attached to the stems to insulate the finished floor panel.

A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be 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, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be 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 relates to a process for producing a foam ceramic comprising the steps: producing an aqueous suspension of a first mineral raw material; foaming the suspension with air while adding a foaming agent and a binder to form a light foam; mixing the light foam with a powder or slip of a second ceramic raw material to form a heavy foam; pouring the heavy foam into a mold; drying the molded heavy foam in the mold to form a solid foam; and firing the solid foam in the mold to form the foam ceramic.