A concrete composition and method include a portion of fine aggregate bearing a coating of a polymer or an admixture, which may be a continuous coating layer or a layer of powdered, discrete particles embedded in a binder. The polymeric coating may be an admixture in powdered form, 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 manufacturing method includes: a dry mixing step of dry mixing a raw material by batch processing; a wet mixing step of adding liquid to a dry mixture obtained at the dry mixing step, the liquid including at least one type of water, surfactant, lubricant and plasticizer, while wet mixing; a kneading step of kneading a wet mixture obtained at the wet mixing step; and a forming step of extruding a kneaded mixture (forming raw material) obtained at the kneading step to make a ceramic formed body. In the kneading step, the liquid is further added during kneading of the wet mixture.

The invention relates to a method for the production of solid surfaces for construction, in particular large boards made from completely inorganic components, for use as kitchen worktops, bathroom surfaces, building cladding materials, flooring and for other uses related to the field of construction. The invention is suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.

A method for making a ceramic heat sink is provided. In the first step of the method, a mixed material of nitrite-based ceramic powder, titanium powder and inorganic resin is prepared. The mixed material is then molded into a ceramic blank with a mold coated with titanium. Thereafter, the ceramic blank may be sintered to form the ceramic heat sink. Since the mixture and the mold both contain a common material of titanium, the molded ceramic blank can be easily removed from the mold in its integrity.

Disclosed are product (e.g., panels), slurry, and methods relating to an uncooked starch having a mid-range peak viscosity (i.e., from about 120 Brabender Units to about 900 Brabender Units).

A method for making a ceramic heat sink is provided. In the first step of the method, a mixed material of nitrite-based ceramic powder, titanium powder and inorganic resin is prepared. The mixed material is then molded into a ceramic blank with a mold coated with titanium. Thereafter, the ceramic blank may be sintered to form the ceramic heat sink. Since the mixture and the mold both contain a common material of titanium, the molded ceramic blank can be easily removed from the mold in its integrity.

A method for continuously forming gypsum-based panels of high fixing strength comprises the steps of: forming a mixture comprising stucco, non-pregelatinized migratory starch, glass fibre, fluidizer and water; casting the mixture in a continuous band; maintaining the band under conditions sufficient for the stucco to form an interlocking matrix of set gypsum; cutting the band to form one or more wet panel precursors; and drying the wet panel precursor to form one or more gypsum-based panels. The weight ratio of water to stucco in the mixture is less than 0.7; the stucco is present in the mixture in an amount of over 60 wt % relative to the total solids content of the mixture; the starch is present in the mixture in an amount of over 3 wt % relative to the the stucco; the glass fibre is present in the mixture in an amount of over 1 wt % relative to the stucco; the fluidizer is is present in the mixture in an amount of at least 0.1 wt % relative to the stucco; and the density of the gypsum-based panel is greater than 700 kg/m.

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).

Processes are disclosed for producing gypsum-based products from a gypsum slurry. Additives or combinations of additives for improving compressive strength, fluidity and/or set time of the gypsum product are mixed in intimate contact with raw gypsum prior to or during grinding and/or flash calcination to form stucco. The stucco is used to prepare a gypsum slurry which is shaped and sets to form the gypsum product.