Machines, systems and methods for curing materials, including organic and nonorganic materials, are described. In particular, machines, systems and methods for machines, systems and methods for materials, such as organic plant materials or inorganic materials, including cannabis materials. In particular, the present invention relates to machines, systems and methods for an automated drying and curing chamber machine for both personal and commercial applications, wherein the machine uses customized variable settings and laminar air flow dynamics via negative pressure to ensure the optimal curing and drying environment for plant materials are described.

The invention provides a curing system that is useful for curing materials that consume carbon dioxide as a reagent. The system has a curing chamber that contains the material to be cured and a gas that contains carbon dioxide. The system includes apparatus that can deliver carbon dioxide to displace ambient air upon loading the system, that can provide carbon dioxide as it is needed and as it is consumed, that can control carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and humidity in the curing chamber during the curing cycle and that can record and display to a user the variables that occur during the curing process. A method of curing a material which requires CO.sub.2 as a curing reagent is also described.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body, the non-fired honeycomb formed body including a raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material and water; an induction drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body by induction drying to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The induction drying step is to remove 10 to 50% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying by induction drying to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body, then turn the first dried honeycomb formed body upside down and remove the residual water by further induction drying to obtain the honeycomb dried body.

A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body, the non-fired honeycomb formed body including a raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material, 0.5 to 5.0 mass % of pore former and water; an induction drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body by induction drying to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The induction drying step is to remove 20 to 80% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying by induction drying to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body, then turn the first dried honeycomb formed body upside down and remove the residual water by further induction drying to obtain the honeycomb dried body.

A method of curing concrete including the steps of providing a concrete curing blanket and covering the concrete with the concrete curing blanket to keep the concrete hydrated during the curing process. The concrete and the concrete curing blanket are soaked with water, to thoroughly hydrate the concrete and the concrete curing blanket. The concrete curing blanket includes an absorbent sheet comprising a wicking layer, super absorbent materials, and a tissue layer, with the super absorbent materials being positioned between the wicking layer and the tissue layer; and a vapor barrier bonded to the tissue layer of the absorbent sheet. The vapor barrier has a plurality of perforations.

Apparatus and methods for improving the curing process of materials that cure under reaction with CO.sub.2 and that do not cure in the presence of water alone are described, and examples are given.

The invention provides a curing system that is useful for curing materials that consume carbon dioxide as a reagent. The system has a curing chamber that contains the material to be cured and a gas that contains carbon dioxide. The system includes apparatus that can deliver carbon dioxide to displace ambient air upon loading the system, that can provide carbon dioxide as it is needed and as it is consumed, that can control carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and humidity in the curing chamber during the curing cycle and that can record and display to a user the variables that occur during the curing process. A method of curing a material which requires CO.sub.2 as a curing reagent is also described.

The invention provides novel articles of composite materials having hollow interior channels or passageways, or otherwise being hollowed out, and formulations and methods for their manufacture and uses. These hollow core objects are suitable for a variety of applications in construction, pavements and landscaping, and infrastructure.

The invention provides novel aerated composite materials that possess excellent physical and performance characteristics of aerated concretes, and methods of production and uses thereof. These composite materials can be readily produced from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption, desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

A thermal insulator with both excellent heat insulation and strength and a method of manufacturing the thermal insulator are provided. A thermal insulator according to the present invention includes metal oxide fine particles with an average particle diameter equal to or smaller than 50 nm and a reinforcing fiber, wherein the thermal insulator has a bridge structure between the metal oxide fine particles which is formed by elution of part of the metal oxide fine particles. A method of manufacturing a thermal insulator according to the present invention includes a curing step of curing a dry pressed compact including metal oxide fine particles with an average particle diameter equal to or smaller than 50 nm and a reinforcing fiber under a pressurized vapor saturated atmosphere at a temperature equal to or higher than 100 C. for four hours and a drying step of drying the cured dry pressed compact.