A composition, utility material, and method of making a utility material is disclosed. A composition having an improved setting time may include a plurality of microparticles mixed with a sodium silicate binder and an isocyanate setting agent, where the microparticle composition has a setting time of less than or equal to one hour. A utility material may be a wallboard that includes the composition.

A lightweight composite having an activated surface contains a lightweight hollow core particle having cement grains which may be adhered to the hollow core or embedded in the surface of the hollow core. The hollow core particle may be prepared from calcium carbonate and a mixture of clay, such as bentonite, and a glassy inorganic material, such as glass spheres, glass beads, glass bubbles, borosilicate glass and fiberglass.

A lightweight composite having an activated surface contains a lightweight hollow core particle having cement grains which may be adhered to the hollow core or embedded in the surface of the hollow core. The hollow core particle may be prepared from calcium carbonate and a mixture of clay, such as bentonite, and a glassy inorganic material, such as glass spheres, glass beads, glass bubbles, borosilicate glass and fiberglass.

A lightweight composite having an activated surface contains a lightweight hollow core particle having cement grains which may be adhered to the hollow core or embedded in the surface of the hollow core. The hollow core particle may be prepared from calcium carbonate and a mixture of clay, such as bentonite, and a glassy inorganic material, such as glass spheres, glass beads, glass bubbles, borosilicate glass and fiberglass.

A thermally-insulating composite material with co-shrinkage in the form of an insulating material formed by the inclusion of microballoons in a matrix material such that the microballoons and the matrix material exhibit co-shrinkage upon processing. The thermally-insulating composite material can be formed by a variety of microballoon-matrix material combinations such as polymer microballoons in a preceramic matrix material. The matrix materials generally contain fine rigid fillers.

A thermally-insulating composite material with co-shrinkage in the form of an insulating material formed by the inclusion of microballoons in a matrix material such that the microballoons and the matrix material exhibit co-shrinkage upon processing. The thermally-insulating composite material can be formed by a variety of microballoon-matrix material combinations such as polymer microballoons in a preceramic matrix material. The matrix materials generally contain fine rigid fillers.

A thermally-insulating composite material with co-shrinkage in the form of an insulating material formed by the inclusion of microballoons in a matrix material such that the microballoons and the matrix material exhibit co-shrinkage upon processing. The thermally-insulating composite material can be formed by a variety of microballoon-matrix material combinations such as polymer microballoons in a preceramic matrix material. The matrix materials generally contain fine rigid fillers.

A catalytic composition is built up from a ceramic material including a catalytic material and a first inorganic binder and a second inorganic binder and a catalytic structure made thereof. Preferably, the structure is made by a colloidal ceramic shaping technique. The structure is usable for catalytic or ion exchange applications as well. It is demonstrated that the catalytic structures have excellent mechanical, physicochemical and catalytic properties.

A catalytic composition is built up from a ceramic material including a catalytic material and a first inorganic binder and a second inorganic binder and a catalytic structure made thereof. Preferably, the structure is made by a colloidal ceramic shaping technique. The structure is usable for catalytic or ion exchange applications as well. It is demonstrated that the catalytic structures have excellent mechanical, physicochemical and catalytic properties.

An insulating product for the refractory industry or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product, and a corresponding insulating material/insulating product are provided. Likewise the use of a matrix encapsulation process in the production of an insulating product for the refractory industry and a corresponding insulating product and/or an insulating material as intermediate for production of such a product are provided.