Methods of forming composite block briquettes of prefabricated thinsets, grouts, and self-leveling underlayment products having high sand content, and the resultant composite block briquettes. Processing conditions within a compacting tool are controlled to generate a press force that is applied to a prefabricated cementitious product having a high sand content, whereby the press force enables formation of sustainable prefabricated product briquettes having a high sand content. The controlled compacting processing conditions and parameters of the invention generate usable briquettes that break up and form the intended resultant product of the starting prefabricated cementitious product.

Methods of forming composite block briquettes of prefabricated thinsets, grouts, and self-leveling underlayment products having high sand content, and the resultant composite block briquettes. Processing conditions within a compacting tool are controlled to generate a press force that is applied to a prefabricated cementitious product having a high sand content, whereby the press force enables formation of sustainable prefabricated product briquettes having a high sand content. The controlled compacting processing conditions and parameters of the invention generate usable briquettes that break up and form the intended resultant product of the starting prefabricated cementitious product.

A machine and method for compacting a powder material comprising ceramic powder; a layer of non-compacted powder material is conveyed to a compacting device, which enables a layer of compacted powder material to be obtained; the machine comprises a conveyor belt for carrying the powder material from an input station, in the area of which a feed assembly feeds the powder material to the conveyor assembly, to the compacting device; a straightening device is envisaged, which is designed for exerting a force to increase the flatness of the conveyor belt at least in the area of the input station.

A multi-zone cementitious product, which includes a base zone made of a first cementitious material composition and forming a portion of the product. At least one facing zone is adjacent to and bonded to the base zone, the facing zone made of a second cementitious material composition and forming at least one exterior face of said product which is visible when the product is installed. A disrupted boundary layer is between the facing zone and the base zone, and includes material from both the facing zone and the base zone. The disrupted boundary layer bonds the facing zone to the base zone. The facing zone has a thickness sufficient to prevent the base zone from being visible when the product is installed.

A compression device, means for controlling the compression device, a drum having an inner chamber, means for rotating the drum, and first and second delivery devices for delivering first and second materials into the inner chamber of the drum while the drum is rotating. The compression device compresses the first and second material in the inner chamber of the drum while the drum is rotating about the center of the drum in response to the means for controlling the compression device. The apparatus may include a stirring device; and a means for controlling the stirring device; wherein the stirring device is configured with respect to the drum so that the stirring device can be moved up and down to a desired depth within the drum and rotates within the inner chamber of the drum to stir the first and second materials in the drum while the drum is rotating.

A compression device, means for controlling the compression device, a drum having an inner chamber, means for rotating the drum, and first and second delivery devices for delivering first and second materials into the inner chamber of the drum while the drum is rotating. The compression device compresses the first and second material in the inner chamber of the drum while the drum is rotating about the center of the drum in response to the means for controlling the compression device. The apparatus may include a stirring device; and a means for controlling the stirring device; wherein the stirring device is configured with respect to the drum so that the stirring device can be moved up and down to a desired depth within the drum and rotates within the inner chamber of the drum to stir the first and second materials in the drum while the drum is rotating.

A plant for manufacturing ceramic articles comprising two feeding devices, each of which is designed to contain a powder material of a respective type and to feed said powder material to a conveyor assembly; the plant further comprises an operating device which is designed to enable the output of the powder material selectively in the area of the feeding devices arranged successively and transversely to the feeding direction, and a control unit which controls the operating device depending on a desired reference distribution and how far the conveyor assembly feeds the power material.

A plant for manufacturing ceramic articles comprising two feeding devices, each of which is designed to contain a powder material of a respective type and to feed said powder material to a conveyor assembly; the plant further comprises an operating device which is designed to enable the output of the powder material selectively in the area of the feeding devices arranged successively and transversely to the feeding direction, and a control unit which controls the operating device depending on a desired reference distribution and how far the conveyor assembly feeds the power material.

A sheet forming binder includes a first powder and a second powder having a larger volume average particle size than the first powder. The proportion of the first powder is 10.0% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the first powder and the second powder.

Plant (2) for the production of slabs made of composite stone material from a mix (M) containing granules of stone or ceramic or glass material and a binder, comprising at least one temporary support or mould (S), a distributor for the mix (M) designed to distribute a layer of mix (M) on the temporary support or mould (S), a station (4) for performing compaction by means of vacuum vibro-compression of the mix (M) arranged on the temporary support or mould (S) and a station for hardening the mix (M) so as to form the finished slabs. The plant (2) comprises a device (1) positioned downstream of the distributor and upstream of the compaction station (4) and comprising means (16) which act on the top surface of the mix (M) for pre-compaction and levelling of the mix (M) arranged on the temporary support or mould (S). The invention also relates to a method for the production of slabs of composite stone material from a mix (M).