The present invention is directed to a gypsum panel and a method of making such gypsum panel. For instance, in one embodiment, the gypsum panel comprises a gypsum core and a first facing material and a second facing material sandwiching the gypsum core, wherein the gypsum core includes gypsum and an alkoxylated compound. In another embodiment, the gypsum panel comprises a gypsum core and a first facing material and a second facing material sandwiching the gypsum core, wherein the gypsum core includes gypsum and a polyol compound and wherein the gypsum panel exhibits a humidified deflection of greater than 0 inches to 0.05 inches. The methods of the present invention are directed to making the aforementioned gypsum panels by providing the first facing material, providing a gypsum slurry comprising gypsum, water, and the respective compound onto the first facing material, and providing the second facing material on the gypsum slurry.

Efflorescence resistance of concrete blocks is enhanced through the use of glass powder in the concrete composition. The glass powder permits a reduction in the cement content; the glass powder also creates a pozzolanic reaction to change the free calcium ions in calcium hydroxide to calcium silicate to fix the calcium ions inside concrete. The composition includes cementitious binding material of ordinary Portland cement, fly ash, calcium sulfoaluminate cement, ground-granulated blast-furnace slag in an amount from 20 to 25 wt. %. Coarse aggregate is provided from 10 to 15 wt. percent. Fine aggregate is from 32 to 39 wt. %. The composition further includes glass powder having a diameter of less than approximately 75 microns in an amount from 17 to 23 wt. %. Water is present in an amount from 6 to 9 wt. %. The dry density of formed paving blocks is 1800-2200 kg/m.sup.3.

Described herein are compositions comprising hemp, minerals, and water. Such compositions may be used in construction, building materials, insulation, etc. Such compositions may be sprayed, poured, cast, molded, etc.

A reduced carbon emission concrete including a novel combination of novel binder and rock quarry waste as the aggregate. The novel binder includes cements, lime and slag. Reducing carbon emission in all stages of concrete based walkways and paths construction, starting from the materials creating the concrete through the method of construction and included elements.

A repaired reinforced concrete structure is provided which includes one or more reinforcing steel bars of cross-sectional area A.sub.x, the one or more reinforcing steel bars having one or more corroded sections of cross-sectional area A.sub.y, wherein A.sub.y is greater than or equal to approximately 0.6 A.sub.x. A reinforced ordinary Portland cement-based repair mortar is positioned directly on the one or more corroded sections of the one or more reinforcing steel bars without the addition of a lapped reinforcing steel bar. The reinforced repair mortar includes at least approximately 1 percent by volume of reinforcing steel fibers such that the reinforced repair mortar restores a strength of a repaired region to greater than approximately 100% of an original strength of the concrete structure in an uncorroded state. The repaired reinforced concrete structure is highly durable, as the repair mortar exhibits an air permeability resistance of greater than 1000 seconds.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

Methods for making carbon-fiber reinforced geopolymer composites are provided. The methods produce metakaolin-based geopolymer composites in which multiwalled carbon nanotubes and/or carbon nanofibers are well dispersed in an metakaolin-based geopolymer matrix. The mixing protocols of the methods used to produce carbon-fiber reinforced geopolymer composites produce composites with reduced porosity, high elastic moduli, high strength, and/or high fracture toughness.

An absorbent composition for environmental waste solidification includes a population of superabsorbent polymer particles (SAP) and a second item mixed with the population of SAP. The absorbent composition is configured to absorb moisture from ash waste.

The invention provides a high temperature resistant Portland cement slurry and a production method thereof. The high temperature resistant Portland cement slurry comprises the following components by weight: 100 parts of an oil well Portland cement, 60-85 parts of a high temperature reinforcing material, 68-80 parts of fresh water, 1-200 parts of a density adjuster, 0.1-1.5 parts of a suspension stabilizer, 0.8-1.5 parts of a dispersant, 3-4 parts of a fluid loss agent, 0-3 parts of a retarder and 0.2-0.8 part of a defoamer. The high temperature resistant Portland cement slurry has a good sedimentation stability at normal temperature, and develops strength rapidly at a low temperature. The compressive strength is up to 40 MPa or more at a high temperature of 350° C., and the long-term high-temperature compressive strength develops stably without degradation. Therefore, it can meet the requirements for field application in heavy oil thermal recovery wells, reaching the level of Grade G Portland cement for cementing oil and gas wells.

Provided is a boron nitride sintered body including boron nitride particles and pores, in which a compressive elastic modulus is 1 GPa or more. Provided is a method for manufacturing a boron nitride sintered body, the method including: a nitriding step of firing a boron carbide powder in a nitrogen atmosphere to obtain a fired product containing boron carbonitride; and a sintering step of molding and heating a blend containing the fired product and a sintering aid to obtain the boron nitride sintered body including boron nitride particles and pores, in which the sintering aid contains a boron compound and a calcium compound, and the blend contains 1 to 20 parts by mass of the boron compound and the calcium compound in total with respect to 100 parts by mass of the fired product.