A refractory, coarse ceramic product including at least one granular refractory material, has an open porosity of between 22 and 45 vol.-%, in particular of between 23 and 29 vol.-%, and a grain structure of the refractory material, wherein the medium grain size fraction with grain sizes of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm is 10 to 55 wt.-%, in particular 35 to 50 wt.-%, and wherein the remainder of the grain structure is a finest grain fraction with grain sizes of up to 0.1 mm and/or coarse-grain fraction with grain sizes of more than 0.5 mm.

A refractory, coarse ceramic product including at least one granular refractory material, has an open porosity of between 22 and 45 vol.-%, in particular of between 23 and 29 vol.-%, and a grain structure of the refractory material, wherein the medium grain size fraction with grain sizes of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm is 10 to 55 wt.-%, in particular 35 to 50 wt.-%, and wherein the remainder of the grain structure is a finest grain fraction with grain sizes of up to 0.1 mm and/or coarse-grain fraction with grain sizes of more than 0.5 mm.

The present invention relates to improved bentonite barrier compositions having enhanced low permeability over time in containment applications. Of the many embodiments provided herein, one embodiment includes a method comprising: providing a bentonite barrier composition comprising: bentonite; and a polyanionic low molecular weight polymer; and forming a containment using the bentonite barrier composition to provide at least partial separation for a containment from its environment.

The present invention relates to improved bentonite barrier compositions having enhanced low permeability over time in containment applications. Of the many embodiments provided herein, one embodiment includes a method comprising: providing a bentonite barrier composition comprising: bentonite; and a polyanionic low molecular weight polymer; and forming a containment using the bentonite barrier composition to provide at least partial separation for a containment from its environment.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

The invention relates to a method (100) for selecting the composition of a construction material including an excavated clay soil, said construction material composition to include deflocculating agent and activating agent quantities adapted to the excavated clay soil, said method including a step of receiving (130) a measured value of at least one physicochemical property of an excavated clay soil, and a step of selecting (170) a deflocculating agent quantity and an activating agent quantity adapted to the excavated clay soil. In addition, the invention also relates to a method (200) for calibrating a calculation algorithm for determining the composition of a site construction material, to a construction material formed from an excavated clay soil, and to a system (400) for preparing a construction material including an excavated clay soil.

A method of preparing a unique foundry premix composition that has a low bulk density of 30-45 lbs/ft.sup.3 and contains fine particles with an average particle size of 85-100 μm is described. The unique foundry premix composition is produced by using specially designed assemblies of mechanical equipment with improved efficiency so that the premix can be prepared at a site closer to a foundry. As a result, increase in premix density caused by handling and shipping across a long distance from a traditional premix manufacturing facility to a foundry can be suppressed; transportation cost can be saved; and safety would be of less concern. The use of the foundry premix composition to prepare a sand molding medium for casting molded articles is also described.

A method of preparing a unique foundry premix composition that has a low bulk density of 30-45 lbs/ft.sup.3 and contains fine particles with an average particle size of 85-100 μm is described. The unique foundry premix composition is produced by using specially designed assemblies of mechanical equipment with improved efficiency so that the premix can be prepared at a site closer to a foundry. As a result, increase in premix density caused by handling and shipping across a long distance from a traditional premix manufacturing facility to a foundry can be suppressed; transportation cost can be saved; and safety would be of less concern. The use of the foundry premix composition to prepare a sand molding medium for casting molded articles is also described.

A grout material for heat transfer according to the present invention comprises a sand particle; and an outer layer coated on the surface of individual sand particle, wherein the outer layer is composed of a mixture of graphite powder and a hydraulic inorganic binder.

A method for producing the grout material for heat transfer according to the present invention comprises the steps of: mixing graphite powder and a hydraulic inorganic binder; coating the mixture of graphite powder and the hydraulic inorganic binder on the outer surface of the sand particles while stirring the sand particles by spraying water; curing the hydraulic inorganic binder on the sand particles on which the mixture of graphite powder and the hydraulic inorganic binder is coated; and drying the sand particles on which the mixture of graphite powder and the hydraulic inorganic binder is coated.

The grout material for heat transfer is mixed with the mixture of water and bentonite powder to form a slurry and is used for a grouting process in which the prepared slurry is injected to give water-proof property to the grout material for heat transfer.

A grout material for heat transfer according to the present invention comprises a sand particle; and an outer layer coated on the surface of individual sand particle, wherein the outer layer is composed of a mixture of graphite powder and a hydraulic inorganic binder.

A method for producing the grout material for heat transfer according to the present invention comprises the steps of: mixing graphite powder and a hydraulic inorganic binder; coating the mixture of graphite powder and the hydraulic inorganic binder on the outer surface of the sand particles while stirring the sand particles by spraying water; curing the hydraulic inorganic binder on the sand particles on which the mixture of graphite powder and the hydraulic inorganic binder is coated; and drying the sand particles on which the mixture of graphite powder and the hydraulic inorganic binder is coated.

The grout material for heat transfer is mixed with the mixture of water and bentonite powder to form a slurry and is used for a grouting process in which the prepared slurry is injected to give water-proof property to the grout material for heat transfer.