A process produces building materials with inert materials capable of remaining durably solid and with a low environmental impact. The process includes mixing sand, sodium hydroxide and possibly additives, adding calcined kaolin, adding sodium silicate and/or a mixture of sodium silicate and potassium hydroxide, and adding photocatalytic titanium dioxide.

A cement-based artificial stone plate includes a cement-based plate body; and a metal mesh being embedded in the cement-based plate body; wherein the metal mesh is arranged with at least one fixing member, the fixing member defines a screw hole along its axis, and the screw hole of the fixing member is exposed on back of the cement-based plate body, and back of the plate body is provided with regular or irregular protrusions, between any two protrusions forms a groove, and bottom of each groove is close to the metal mesh.

A cement-based artificial stone plate includes a cement-based plate body; and a metal mesh being embedded in the cement-based plate body; wherein the metal mesh is arranged with at least one fixing member, the fixing member defines a screw hole along its axis, and the screw hole of the fixing member is exposed on back of the cement-based plate body, and back of the plate body is provided with regular or irregular protrusions, between any two protrusions forms a groove, and bottom of each groove is close to the metal mesh.

A paving block with improved illumination (luminescent paving block) preferably includes a concrete base layer and a photoluminescent layer. The photoluminescent layer is formed on top of the concrete base layer. The concrete base layer is preferably created by combining sand, aggregate, water, pigment and cement to form an uncured concrete mixture. The photoluminescent layer preferably includes very fine aggreagate, cement, water, pigment, sand and a polyester resin infused with a photoluminescent pigment or a silica-based glass material infused with photoluminescent pigment. Further, a light transmitting sealant may be placed over the photoluminescent material.

A paving block with improved illumination (luminescent paving block) preferably includes a concrete base layer and a photoluminescent layer. The photoluminescent layer is formed on top of the concrete base layer. The concrete base layer is preferably created by combining sand, aggregate, water, pigment and cement to form an uncured concrete mixture. The photoluminescent layer preferably includes very fine aggreagate, cement, water, pigment, sand and a polyester resin infused with a photoluminescent pigment or a silica-based glass material infused with photoluminescent pigment. Further, a light transmitting sealant may be placed over the photoluminescent material.

The invention relates to a refractory dry vibratable mix which sets at room temperature when water is added, for use in metallurgical vessels and comprising a refractory main component, a binder and a retarder.

Provided herein are manufacturing processes that include (1) subjecting precursor-containing solids to dissolution under acoustic perturbation to yield an initial slurry including dissolved precursors; (2) subjecting the initial slurry to hydrothermal synthesis to yield a subsequent slurry including siliceous solids formed from the dissolved precursors; and (3) subjecting the subsequent slurry to cementation to yield a cemented siliceous solid. Also provided herein are cemented siliceous solids formed by the manufacturing processes.

In the method for manufacturing conglomerate stone slabs using the Bretonstone technology, in the variant where the starting mixture is enclosed between two paper sheets, the improvement consists in replacing each paper sheet with a containment element consisting of a paper sheet, one surface of which has, applied thereon, a film of plastic material which is impermeable to organic vapours, impermeable to the liquids and in particular to the liquid resin constituting the binder of said mixture, resistant to the catalysis temperatures of the said resin and resistant to hot solvents and chemical vapours. Preferably, said plastic material is water-soluble, in particular polyvinyl alcohol.

In the method for manufacturing conglomerate stone slabs using the Bretonstone technology, in the variant where the starting mixture is enclosed between two paper sheets, the improvement consists in replacing each paper sheet with a containment element consisting of a paper sheet, one surface of which has, applied thereon, a film of plastic material which is impermeable to organic vapours, impermeable to the liquids and in particular to the liquid resin constituting the binder of said mixture, resistant to the catalysis temperatures of the said resin and resistant to hot solvents and chemical vapours. Preferably, said plastic material is water-soluble, in particular polyvinyl alcohol.

A high toughness inorganic composite artificial stone panel and preparation method are disclosed. The panel includes a surface layer, an intermediate metal fiber toughening layer and a substrate toughening layer. The surface layer includes the following components: 40-70 parts of quartz sand, 10-30 parts of quartz powder, 20-45 parts of inorganic active powder, 0.5-4 parts of pigment, 0.3-1 part of water reducer and 3-10 parts of water. The intermediate metal fiber toughening layer includes the following components: 40-60 parts of inorganic active powder, 45-65 parts of sand, 0.8-1.5 parts of water reducer, 6-14 parts of water and 4-8 parts of metal fiber. The substrate toughening layer includes the following components: 30-50 parts of inorganic active powder, 30-55 parts of quartz sand, 15-20 parts of quartz powder, 0.5-1.2 parts of water reducer, 4-8 parts of water and 0.8-2.5 parts of toughening agent.