A geopolymer foam composition, an article comprising a geopolymer foam composition, methods for making a geopolymer foam composition, and uses of a geopolymer foam composition.

A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

Provided is a cement composition that has high fluidity (for example, a 0-drop flow value of 200 mm or more) before curing and exhibits high compressive strength (for example, 320 N/mm.sup.2 or more) after curing. The cement composition includes a cement, a silica fume having a BET specific surface area of from 10 m.sup.2/g to 25 m.sup.2/g, an inorganic powder having a 50% cumulative particle size of from 0.8 μm to 5 μm, a fine aggregate having a maximum particle size of 1.2 mm or less, a water reducing agent, an antifoaming agent, and water. The ratio of the cement is from 55 vol % to 65 vol %, the ratio of the silica fume is from 5 vol % to 25 vol %, and the ratio of the inorganic powder is from 15 vol % to 35 vol % in the total amount of 100 vol % of the cement, the silica fume, and the inorganic powder.

A method and device for producing lightweight panels with a core of gypsum or of cement and gypsum, with pores for decreasing volumetric weight, and with a covering made of cardboard or of a sheet of glass fibers. The production line does not change except for the addition of a device which forms closed hollow cavities within a suspension in an area where an upper sheet covers the suspension. Air pressure which is fed into the formed cavities is slightly higher than the hydraulic pressure of the suspension, so as to prevent the gaps being filled by the suspension. The layers are less thick, and the type and dimensions of the cavities and the thickness of the walls are varied depending on the desired qualities of the panels.

A method and device for producing lightweight panels with a core of gypsum or of cement and gypsum, with pores for decreasing volumetric weight, and with a covering made of cardboard or of a sheet of glass fibers. The production line does not change except for the addition of a device which forms closed hollow cavities within a suspension in an area where an upper sheet covers the suspension. Air pressure which is fed into the formed cavities is slightly higher than the hydraulic pressure of the suspension, so as to prevent the gaps being filled by the suspension. The layers are less thick, and the type and dimensions of the cavities and the thickness of the walls are varied depending on the desired qualities of the panels.

Process for producing a thermally insulating mixture comprising hydrophobic silica, in which a) a pulverulent carrier material selected from the group consisting of precipitated silicas, SiO.sub.2 aerogels, pearlites and mixtures thereof is coated with a liquid silicon compound, where the liquid silicon compound has at least one alkyl group and a boiling point of less than 200° C., and b) the pulverulent carrier material that has thus been coated with the liquid silicon compound is mixed with a composition comprising a pulverulent hydrophilic fumed silica and the mixture is subjected to thermal treatment at more than 40° C. and c) any unreacted silicon compound is subsequently removed from the thermally treated mixture, thus giving the thermally insulating mixture comprising hydrophobic silica.

Process for producing a thermally insulating mixture comprising hydrophobic silica, in which a) a pulverulent carrier material selected from the group consisting of precipitated silicas, SiO.sub.2 aerogels, pearlites and mixtures thereof is coated with a liquid silicon compound, where the liquid silicon compound has at least one alkyl group and a boiling point of less than 200° C., and b) the pulverulent carrier material that has thus been coated with the liquid silicon compound is mixed with a composition comprising a pulverulent hydrophilic fumed silica and the mixture is subjected to thermal treatment at more than 40° C. and c) any unreacted silicon compound is subsequently removed from the thermally treated mixture, thus giving the thermally insulating mixture comprising hydrophobic silica.

A honeycomb structure including a plurality of porous honeycomb block bodies bound via joining material layers A. Each of the porous honeycomb block bodies includes a plurality of porous honeycomb segments bound via joining material layers B, each of the porous honeycomb segment includes: partition walls that defines a plurality of cells to form flow paths for a fluid, each of cells extending from an inflow end face that is an end face on a fluid inflow side to an outflow end face that is an end face on a fluid outflow side; and an outer peripheral wall located at the outermost periphery. At least a part of the joining material layers A has higher toughness than that of the joining material layers B.

A honeycomb structure including a plurality of porous honeycomb block bodies bound via joining material layers A. Each of the porous honeycomb block bodies includes a plurality of porous honeycomb segments bound via joining material layers B, each of the porous honeycomb segment includes: partition walls that defines a plurality of cells to form flow paths for a fluid, each of cells extending from an inflow end face that is an end face on a fluid inflow side to an outflow end face that is an end face on a fluid outflow side; and an outer peripheral wall located at the outermost periphery. At least a part of the joining material layers A has higher toughness than that of the joining material layers B.