[Object] To provide a building material having excellent durability.

[Solution] A building material has a convex part formed on a surface thereof, the convex part including a first lateral surface part and a second lateral surface part corresponding to the first lateral surface part. The building material is formed from a mixture containing a hydraulic material, an admixture, and a plant-based reinforcing material, and the plant-based reinforcing material at least in the convex part is distributed in the mixture with the hydraulic material and the admixture attached to the plant-based reinforcing material. A distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the first lateral surface part and a distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the second lateral surface part are substantially the same. Desirably, the convex part includes a first edge part that is an edge part of the first lateral surface part and a second edge part that is an edge part of the second lateral surface part and that corresponds to the first edge part, and a distribution of holes formed in the first edge part and a distribution of holes formed in the second edge part are substantially the same.

A method in which a stream of dry cementitious powder from a dry powder feeder passes through a dry cementitious powder inlet conduit to feed a first feed section of a fiber-slurry mixer. An aqueous medium stream passes through at least one aqueous medium stream conduit to feed a first mixing section the fiber-slurry mixer. A stream of reinforcing fibers passes from a fiber feeder through a reinforcing fibers stream conduit to feed a second mixing section of the fiber-slurry mixer. The stream of dry cementitious powder, aqueous medium stream, and stream of reinforcing fibers combine in the fiber-slurry mixer to make a stream of fiber-cement mixture which discharges through a discharge conduit at a downstream end of the mixer.

A method for production of a gypsum fiberboard panel, has the following method steps: production of a mixture of calcined gypsum and fibers; application of the mixture to a gas-permeable and/or air-permeable and/or liquid-permeable conveyor that continuously moves in an advancing direction, at an advancing speed; pre-compaction of the mixture; wetting of the mixture with setting water; post-compaction of the mixture; pressing the mixture to form a gypsum fiberboard panel strand; cutting the gypsum fiberboard panel strand into individual gypsum fiberboard panels; drying the gypsum fiberboard panels; and if necessary, finishing and/or coating the dried gypsum fiberboard panels; wherein for pre-compaction, the mixture is sprayed with a water mist and has a partial vacuum applied to it. Furthermore, an apparatus produces a gypsum fiberboard panel, in particular by carrying out the method, and a gypsum fiberboard panel is produced using the method and/or using the apparatus.

A method for producing an insulation product may include providing an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution may include coarse glass fibers, glass microfibers, aerogel particles, and a binder. The coarse glass fibers, the glass microfibers, the aerogel particles, and the binder may be uniformly dispersed in the aqueous solution and may form a slurry. The method may further include removing at least a portion of water from the slurry such that the coarse glass fibers, the glass microfibers, the aerogel particles, and the binder may form a wet laid mixture. The method may also include curing the wet laid mixture to cure the binder and bond the coarse glass fibers, the glass microfibers, and the aerogel particles together to form a fiberglass reinforced aerogel composite. The fiberglass reinforced aerogel composite may include between about 50 wt. % and about 75 wt. % of the aerogel particles.

A method in which a stream of dry cementitious powder from a dry powder feeder passes through a dry cementitious powder inlet conduit to feed a first feed section of a fiber-slurry mixer. An aqueous medium stream passes through at least one aqueous medium stream conduit to feed a first mixing section the fiber-slurry mixer. A stream of reinforcing fibers passes from a fiber feeder through a reinforcing fibers stream conduit to feed a second mixing section of the fiber-slurry mixer. The stream of dry cementitious powder, aqueous medium stream, and stream of reinforcing fibers combine in the fiber-slurry mixer to make a stream of fiber-cement mixture which discharges through a discharge conduit at a downstream end of the mixer.

The present invention is directed to a fiber cement felt comprising repeat units, each of which includes top, middle, and bottom machine direction yarns and cross-machine direction yarns interwoven with the top, middle, and bottom machine direction yarns in a predetermined weave pattern. The top, middle, and bottom machine direction yarns may comprise effect yarns and linear yarns without the need for a batt layer.

The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for producing hydrophobized fiber cement sheets as well as fiber cement sheets obtainable therewith. In particular, the present invention provides processes for manufacturing a hydrophobized fiber cement product, said process at least comprising the steps of: (i) forming at least one fiber cement film on a rotating sieve in contact with a fiber cement slurry in a vat; (ii) transferring said at least one fiber cement film from said sieve to a felt transport belt, (iii) applying a mist of a hydrophobizing agent to said at least one fiber cement film, and (iv) accumulating the fiber cement film on an accumulator roll via the felt transport belt, so as to form a hydrophobized fiber cement product. The present invention further relates to various uses of the fiber cement sheets obtainable by the processes of the invention in the building industry.

A method in which a stream of dry cementitious powder from a dry powder feeder passes through a dry cementitious powder inlet conduit to feed a first feed section of a fiber-slurry mixer. An aqueous medium stream passes through at least one aqueous medium stream conduit to feed a first mixing section the fiber-slurry mixer. A stream of reinforcing fibers passes from a fiber feeder through a reinforcing fibers stream conduit to feed a second mixing section of the fiber-slurry mixer. The stream of dry cementitious powder, aqueous medium stream, and stream of reinforcing fibers combine in the fiber-slurry mixer to make a stream of fiber-cement mixture which discharges through a discharge conduit at a downstream end of the mixer.

A Hatschek process for the production of profiled fiber cement plates is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (i) providing an endless fiber cement multilayered slab stacking at least one monolayer of a first type having a first width and at least one monolayer of a second type of monolayers having a second width, the at least one monolayer of a second type of monolayers extending in transverse direction beyond the at least one monolayer of a first type of monolayer: (ii) accumulating at least one layer of the endless fiber cement multilayered slab on a profiled accumulator roll having a recess along at least part of its circumference whereby the at least first monolayer is provided within the recess; (iii) removing the accumulated slab from the accumulator roll; and (iv) curing the uncured fiber cement plate.

There are provided gypsum panels, sheets and multi-layer sheets as well as methods of preparation thereof. For example, there are provided cellulose filament-reinforced gypsum panels, sheets and multi-layer sheets and methods of preparation thereof. For example, in such gypsum panels, sheets and multi-layer sheets gypsum is bound with cellulose filaments to strengthen the gypsum panels, sheets and multi-layer sheets. The cellulose filament-reinforced gypsum panel can be, for example, a core comprising a honeycomb or corrugated structure. There are also provided aqueous suspensions comprising cellulose filaments and CaSO.sub.4.2H.sub.2O.