The invention relates to a plaster-based composition comprising nanometric boehmite and/or nanometric aluminium trihydroxide, this composition making it possible to obtain products having better dimensional stability at high and in particular at very high temperature. The invention also relates to the method of obtaining the products, and the products produced.

A method of making a roadbed, including paving an area with foamed glass bodies to define a bed and covering the bed with a layer of cementitious material to define a composite bed. The composite bed is at least 85 percent foamed glass bodies. The composite bed has a cementitious surface.

A method of making a roadbed, including paving an area with foamed glass bodies to define a bed and covering the bed with a layer of cementitious material to define a composite bed. The composite bed is at least 85 percent foamed glass bodies. The composite bed has a cementitious surface.

A construction material, a hydrophobic, optionally multi-cellular, inorganic particulate material for use in the construction material, for example, to improve the crush strength and/or stability of the construction material, a method of making the construction material, constructions comprising the construction material, and a method of improving the stability of a construction material.

A nanostructure is provided that in one embodiment includes a cluster of cylindrical bodies. Each of the cylindrical bodies in the cluster are substantially aligned with one another so that their lengths are substantially parallel. The composition of the cylindrical bodies include tungsten (W) and sulfur (S), and each of the cylindrical bodies has a geometry with at least one dimension that is in the nanoscale. Each cluster of cylindrical bodies may have a width dimension ranging from 0.2 microns to 5.0 microns, and a length greater than 5.0 microns. In some embodiments, the cylindrical bodies are composed of tungsten disulfide (WS.sub.2). In another embodiment the nanolog is a particle comprised of external concentric disulfide layers which encloses internal disulfide folds and regions of oxide. Proportions between disulfide and oxide can be tailored by thermal treatment and/or extent of initial synthesis reaction.

A nanostructure is provided that in one embodiment includes a cluster of cylindrical bodies. Each of the cylindrical bodies in the cluster are substantially aligned with one another so that their lengths are substantially parallel. The composition of the cylindrical bodies include tungsten (W) and sulfur (S), and each of the cylindrical bodies has a geometry with at least one dimension that is in the nanoscale. Each cluster of cylindrical bodies may have a width dimension ranging from 0.2 microns to 5.0 microns, and a length greater than 5.0 microns. In some embodiments, the cylindrical bodies are composed of tungsten disulfide (WS.sub.2). In another embodiment the nanolog is a particle comprised of external concentric disulfide layers which encloses internal disulfide folds and regions of oxide. Proportions between disulfide and oxide can be tailored by thermal treatment and/or extent of initial synthesis reaction.

A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Provided is a novel metallic coarse aggregate for concrete which can be used as a coarse aggregate which is one of the essential constituents of concrete, can further improve the compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete, is less likely to be sedimented in fresh concrete, and has good productivity at a low cost. The metallic coarse aggregate for concrete includes a coarse aggregate body including a spherical cap portion bonded body having two hollow spherical cap portions and an annular portion protruding from a surface of the spherical cap portion bonded body so as to surround an outer periphery of the spherical cap portion bonded body, the annular portion having a shape in which a corner of a rectangular shape is bent upward or downward.

Provided is a novel metallic coarse aggregate for concrete which can be used as a coarse aggregate which is one of the essential constituents of concrete, can further improve the compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete, is less likely to be sedimented in fresh concrete, and has good productivity at a low cost. The metallic coarse aggregate for concrete includes a coarse aggregate body including a spherical cap portion bonded body having two hollow spherical cap portions and an annular portion protruding from a surface of the spherical cap portion bonded body so as to surround an outer periphery of the spherical cap portion bonded body, the annular portion having a shape in which a corner of a rectangular shape is bent upward or downward.