Fire-retardant panels that include: a frame with multiple holes that reduce heat conduction through the panel; or a frame that includes two portions separated by a layer of fire-resistant material (e.g., gypsum, calcium silicate, or gypsum board). Some embodiments include skins (e.g., sheet metal) or insulation (e.g., between skin and fire-resistant material, for instance, within the frame). In particular embodiments, the fire-resistant material is (e.g., midway) between: two skins, two layers of insulation, two portions of the frame, or a combination thereof. The portions of the frame can be: sheet metal, attached (e.g., screwed) to the skin(s) or to each other, or extend around the perimeter. The frame can include: various elongated members, (e.g., parallel) bends, or holes that are: in at least one row, elongated, or slots (e.g., parallel to each other or to the skin).

Low-density thermoplastic expandable microspheres are disclosed. Various low-density structures, in particular, sandwich panels, based on foam prepared from the low-density microspheres, are also disclosed. Process of preparing low-density polymeric microspheres, per se, and the corresponding low-density structures, based on the microsphere foam, are also disclosed.

Provided is a process for producing a graphene foam laminate for use as a sealing material, the process comprising (a) providing a layer of graphene foam; and (b) laminating the layer of graphene foam with one layer of permeation-resistant polymer to form a two-layer laminate or with two layers of permeation-resistant polymer to form a three-layer laminate wherein the graphene foam layer is sandwiched between the two permeation-resistant polymer layers. The two permeation-resistant polymer layers can be the same or different in composition. The product is a new, novel, unexpected, and patently distinct class of highly conducting, elastic, thermally stable, and strong sealing materials.

Fire-retardant panels that include: a frame with multiple holes in at least two rows that reduce heat conduction through the panel; or a frame that includes two portions separated by a layer of fire-resistant material (e.g., gypsum, calcium silicate, or gypsum board). Some embodiments include layers of skin (e.g., sheet metal) or insulation (e.g., between skin and fire-resistant material). In particular embodiments, the fire-resistant material is (e.g., midway) between: two skins, two layers of insulation, two portions of the frame, or a combination thereof. The portions of the frame can be: sheet metal, attached (e.g., screwed) to the skin(s), or extend around the perimeter. The frame can include: various elongated members, one or two (e.g., parallel) bends, or holes that are: in at least three rows, staggered, elongated, or slots (e.g., parallel to each other or to the skin).

A passivating flexible insulation blanket positionable about a pipe includes an insulation core, an enclosing fabric, and a non-consumable passivator. The insulation core is substantially hydrophobic and includes a microporous material. The enclosing fabric fully encapsulates the insulation core to form a capsule or pouch about the insulation core. The non-consumable passivator is non-consumable such that there is no appreciable change to a mass of the non-consumable passivator after an extended time of activation. The non-consumable passivator is deposited into the insulation core and has a composition soluble in water. The non-consumable passivator includes a leachable component that leaches from the insulation core and is capable of neutralizing acidic components. The leachable component is water soluble and is capable of reacting with a surface of the pipe to form a protective coating on the pipe to aid in inhibiting corrosion formation on the surface of the pipe.

Provided is a soundproof structure that is small and light and can reduce a noise with a high specific frequency of a sound source at a plurality of frequencies at the same time. The soundproof structure has a membrane-like member, a plate-like member that is disposed to face the membrane-like member and in which at least one through-hole is formed, and a support that is formed of a rigid body and supports the plate-like member and the membrane-like member, in which the membrane-like member is supported by the support so as to perform membrane vibration, in which a rear surface space is provided between the membrane-like member and the plate-like member, in which a first space is provided on a side opposite to the rear surface space with the plate-like member sandwiched therebetween, in which the membrane-like member, the support, the plate-like member, and the rear surface space form a first sound absorbing portion that absorbs a sound by membrane vibration, in which the plate-like member, the support, and the first space form a second sound absorbing portion that absorbs a sound by Helmholtz resonance, and in which assuming that a fundamental frequency of membrane vibration of the membrane-like member in a case where the plate-like member is regarded as a rigid body in which the through-hole is not formed in the first sound absorbing portion is f.sub.m1 and a fundamental frequency of Helmholtz resonance of the second sound absorbing portion is f.sub.h1, f.sub.m1<f.sub.h1 is satisfied.

Low-density thermoplastic expandable microspheres are disclosed. Various low-density structures, in particular, sandwich panels, based on foam prepared from the low-density microspheres, are also disclosed. Process of preparing low-density polymeric microspheres, per se, and the corresponding low-density structures, based on the microsphere foam, are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a composite sandwich base panel for a Unit Load Device. The panel comprises an upper surface layer comprising fibre reinforcement material, a lower surface layer comprising fibre reinforcement material, and a central core section where at least the majority comprises a plurality of particles bound in a matrix material. The upper surface layer and lower surface layer are provided with a matrix material to bind them to the central core section.

An integral dual module geopolymer building block includes an inner foam module for insulation and an outer dense tile surface on an outer side of the inner foam module for weather protection. The outer porous module comprises a geopolymer paste including sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide flakes dissolved in the sodium silicate to form an activated solution and adding calcined kaolin clay to the activated solution to form a geopolymer paste. A first relatively dense tile layer has a thickness of about 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. A second geopolymer layer made from a second mass of paste mixed with hydrogen peroxide forms a geopolymer foam having a thickness of between 5 cm and 15 cm.

A segmented composite exhaust flue which may be used to shield an area or object from convective, conductive, or radiated heat transfer from hot exhaust combustion gases is described. In certain embodiments, the composite exhaust flue may be used to protect structures from hot exhaust gases and particles such as those produced by cars, trucks, ships, boats, jets, rockets, as well as other vehicles with internal combustion engines, turbines, or rocket motors. In some embodiments, a composite exhaust flue may include an attachment frame removeably holding a plurality of ceramic composite panels where the ceramic composite panels have a ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic composite high temperature face sheet positioned over an insulating layer.