The present invention provides a composition for forming a lightweight, low shrinkage and hydrophobic cementitious matrix, and a method for preparing thereof. The present cementitious matrix formed by the composition is lightweight, hydrophobic (or water repelling) and with low shrinkage which is useful in building and construction industry as non-structural wall resistant to water, heat and sound entry. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the composition and the cementitious matrix formed from the composition.

A method for the continuous production of a mineral foam of which the density in the dry state (d) is from 40 to 600 kg/m.sup.3, includes (i) mixing cement; a water reducing agent; 0.5 to 10%, % by weight with respect to the total weight of cement, of ultrafine particles having a liquid-solid contact angle comprised from 30° to 140°, and of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; water, with a water/cement weight ratio from 0.3 to 2.5; (ii) adding to the mixture from 0.5 to 10% of a pore-forming agent, % by weight with respect to the weight of cement; (iii) applying the mixture obtained at step (ii) on a support; (iv) leaving the mixture to expand on the support.

A method for the continuous production of a mineral foam of which the density in the dry state (d) is from 40 to 600 kg/m.sup.3, includes (i) mixing cement; a water reducing agent; 0.5 to 10%, % by weight with respect to the total weight of cement, of ultrafine particles having a liquid-solid contact angle comprised from 30° to 140°, and of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; water, with a water/cement weight ratio from 0.3 to 2.5; (ii) adding to the mixture from 0.5 to 10% of a pore-forming agent, % by weight with respect to the weight of cement; (iii) applying the mixture obtained at step (ii) on a support; (iv) leaving the mixture to expand on the support.

A method for the continuous production of a mineral foam of which the density in the dry state (d) is from 40 to 600 kg/m.sup.3, includes (i) mixing cement; a water reducing agent; 0.5 to 10%, % by weight with respect to the total weight of cement, of ultrafine particles having a liquid-solid contact angle comprised from 30° to 140°, and of which the D50 is from 10 to 600 nm; water, with a water/cement weight ratio from 0.3 to 2.5; (ii) adding to the mixture from 0.5 to 10% of a pore-forming agent, % by weight with respect to the weight of cement; (iii) applying the mixture obtained at step (ii) on a support; (iv) leaving the mixture to expand on the support.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multicapillary packing for an exchange of material including the formation, by a 3D printing method, of a monolith having a porous mass through which a plurality of parallel channels passes, opening on an inlet face and an outlet face of the packing, the 3D printing method being chosen among: selective laser sintering, molten wire deposition, stereolithography, binder spraying and spraying of material, the porous mass being suitable for allowing the diffusion of material to be exchanged between the channels.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multicapillary packing for an exchange of material including the formation, by a 3D printing method, of a monolith having a porous mass through which a plurality of parallel channels passes, opening on an inlet face and an outlet face of the packing, the 3D printing method being chosen among: selective laser sintering, molten wire deposition, stereolithography, binder spraying and spraying of material, the porous mass being suitable for allowing the diffusion of material to be exchanged between the channels.

The effectiveness of expansive cement systems may be diluted when, during a well cementing operation, commingling takes place between the cement slurry and a spacer fluid, a drilling fluid, or both. Incorporating expansive agents in the spacer fluid or drilling fluid may reduce or negate the loss of expansion at the cement slurry/spacer interface or the cement slurry/drilling fluid interface, thereby promoting zonal isolation throughout the cemented interval.

The effectiveness of expansive cement systems may be diluted when, during a well cementing operation, commingling takes place between the cement slurry and a spacer fluid, a drilling fluid, or both. Incorporating expansive agents in the spacer fluid or drilling fluid may reduce or negate the loss of expansion at the cement slurry/spacer interface or the cement slurry/drilling fluid interface, thereby promoting zonal isolation throughout the cemented interval.

A honeycomb body with a honeycomb structure having an inner zone of a first plurality of walls and an outer zone of a second plurality of walls at least partially surrounding the inner zone. The honeycomb structure has Pi that is greater than Po and MPSi that is greater than MPSo, wherein Pi is an average bulk porosity of the first plurality of walls, Po is an average bulk porosity of the second plurality of walls, MPSi is a median pore size of pores in the first plurality of walls, and MPSo is a median pore size of pores in the second plurality of walls. Various honeycomb structures, honeycomb extrusion apparatus, and co-extrusion methods are disclosed.

A honeycomb body with a honeycomb structure having an inner zone of a first plurality of walls and an outer zone of a second plurality of walls at least partially surrounding the inner zone. The honeycomb structure has Pi that is greater than Po and MPSi that is greater than MPSo, wherein Pi is an average bulk porosity of the first plurality of walls, Po is an average bulk porosity of the second plurality of walls, MPSi is a median pore size of pores in the first plurality of walls, and MPSo is a median pore size of pores in the second plurality of walls. Various honeycomb structures, honeycomb extrusion apparatus, and co-extrusion methods are disclosed.