A concrete mat apparatus, includes a plurality of elongated concrete members, each member being aligned with and next to another concrete member. Each of the concrete members has an upper generally flat surface, a lower generally flat surface, and a plurality of inclined surfaces that each extend away from an upper or lower surface. Reinforcement extends from a first end portion of each concrete member to a second end portion thereof, the reinforcement including a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcement bars and a plurality of encircling tie bars at spaced apart intervals. Cabling connects each of the elongated concrete members to another of the elongated concrete members. The combination of elongated concrete members has a width and a length that is at least twice as long as the width. The upper inclined surfaces of one of the elongated concrete members forms a plane with the lower inclined surface of an adjacent elongated concrete member. A plurality of loops are provided along opposed edges of the mat, each loop formed by a portion of the cabling. The loops can be spaced between about one and three feet (30.5 and 91.4 cm) apart.

A seamless stamp device for impressing configuration into deformable materials includes a recess member having a substantially planar top wall and an undulating bottom wall with a plurality of ridges integrally joined to the bottom wall, the ridges defining a preselected pattern upon the bottom wall. The seamless stamp device further includes a protrusion member having a substantially planar top wall and an undulating bottom wall with a plurality of ridges integrally joined to the bottom wall, the ridges defining a preselected pattern upon the bottom wall. The recess and protrusion members are detachably engaged such that the undulating bottom walls and ridges of the engaged members provide a continuous, seamless design or pattern in the surface of a deformable material when the recess and protrusion members are forcibly inserted into the deformable material, then vertically elevated and vertically lowered and repositioned upon a different portion of the surface of the deformable material. The method repeating until the entire surface of the deformable material has been configured with the designs of the bottom walls and ridges of the recess and protrusion members.

An abrasive element precursor includes a green body ceramic element having a first major surface, a second major surface, a plurality of inorganic particles, and a binder. At least the first major surface comprises a plurality of precisely shaped features. The plurality of inorganic particles is at least about 99% carbide ceramic by weight.

A mold for manufacturing interlocking, dry-cast concrete retaining wall blocks in an upright orientation comprises a mold box comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Partitions configured to define a space between adjacent blocks or a space between a block and a side of the mold box extend parallel to the side walls of the mold box substantially from the top face into the mold cavity, to form first transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces the blocks which do not include any undercut portion that would impede removal of the mold box in a substantially vertical direction. At least one removable insert comprises insert members which, when positioned in the mold box beneath the partitions, form remaining transverse portions of the profile of the top and bottom surfaces, the remaining transverse portions including at least one undercut portion. The insert members, when in position in the mold box for casting, are substantially in lateral alignment with respective bottom surfaces of at least some of the partitions and can be inserted and retracted through openings in an end wall of the mold box.

A method of making a heat exchanger is disclosed that includes identifying a space for a heat exchanger fluid flow path. A carbon template is formed in the shape of the flow path space, with void space in the shape of a fluid guide that forms the flow path space. A ceramic or a ceramic precursor fluid composition is deposited to the template void space, and a solid ceramic is formed from the fluid composition. The template is removed by oxidizing the carbon.

The disclosure relates to a bio-artificial periosteum based on micropatterning of biomimetic mineralized calcium-phosphorus nanoparticles and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes: first, a micropatterned biomimetic mineralized calcium-phosphorus nanoparticle layer is manufactured on a surface of an inert substrate; then, an organic polymer is cross-linked and solidified on the micropatterned biomimetic mineralized calcium-phosphorus nanoparticle layer; at last, the inert substrate is removed, so that the bio-artificial periosteum based on micropatterning of biomimetic mineralized calcium-phosphorus nanoparticles is obtained. The bio-artificial periosteum not only simulates the composition of natural bone in material components, but also realizes high degree of biomimesis in micro-nano size in structure. Moreover, the distribution of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can be regulated by the bio-artificial periosteum, so that the cells can be effectively defined on a surface of calcium-phosphorus particle micropattern and a high degree of ordered alignment thereof can be realized.

An erosion control mat provides a plurality of concrete blocks. Each block has an upper portion with a plurality of upper inclined side walls. Each block has a lower portion with a plurality of inclined lower side walls. The block has an upper surface and a lower surface and a block periphery in the form of an edge where the upper and lower side walls meet. Cables or ropes connect the blocks together to form a block matrix and the erosion control mat. Each block has a boot affixed to the block lower portion, the boot having a plurality of inclined side panels. Each boot side panel has an upper edge. The boot has a lower panel, a boot interior surface and an interior that is receptive of at least part of the block lower portion. The boot inclined side panels engage the block inclined lower side walls. The boot lower panel engages the block lower surface. A plurality of anchor posts are attached to the interior surface of the boot. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the side wall panels to enable a connection to be formed between the boot inclined side panels and the block inclined lower side walls. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the lower panel of the boot to enable a connection to be formed between the boot lower panel and the block lower surface. As part of the method, the boot is first placed in a mold. Slurried concrete is then added to the mold so that a connection is formed between the boot anchor posts and the concrete when the concrete sets after a time period.

There is provided a method for forming a pattern or a shape in a concrete wall structure, the method comprising: mixing a cement about 100% by weight and silicon about 50% by weight to form a mixed silicon; inserting the mixed silicon into a forming frame; pressing a pressing member onto the first surface and removing the pressing member from the first surface; attaching the forming frame onto the form; placing and curing a concrete to the surface of the mixed silicon in which the shape or pattern is defined; and removing the mixed silicon from the cured concrete, thereby to obtain a concrete wall structure having the three-dimensional pattern or shape formed therein.

An erosion control mat provides a plurality of concrete blocks. Each block has an upper portion with a plurality of upper inclined side walls. Each block has a lower portion with a plurality of inclined lower side walls. The block has an upper surface and a lower surface and a block periphery in the form of an edge where the upper and lower side walls meet. Cables or ropes connect the blocks together to form a block matrix and the erosion control mat. Each block has a boot affixed to the block lower portion, the boot having a plurality of inclined side panels. Each boot side panel has an upper edge. The boot has a lower panel, a boot interior surface and an interior that is receptive of at least part of the block lower portion. The boot inclined side panels engage the block inclined lower side walls. The boot lower panel engages the block lower surface. A plurality of anchor posts are attached to the interior surface of the boot. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the side wall panels to enable a connection to be formed between the boot inclined side panels and the block inclined lower side walls. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the lower panel of the boot to enable a connection to be formed between the boot lower panel and the block lower surface. As part of the method, the boot is first placed in a mould. Slurried concrete is then added to the mould so that a connection is formed between the boot anchor posts and the concrete when the concrete sets after a time period.

A mould for a skimmer box lid includes a mould body having a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor. The sidewall defines a side of a mould cavity in which a settable material can be received. A slot member projects from the floor and into the mould cavity. The slot member defines a passage with a transverse cross-section that is elongate and has a width of less than 10 mm.