The invention relates to a process for producing a composite comprising: a. providing a particulate material, wherein the particulate material comprises minerals having a content of at least 30% m/m of calcium, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, potassium or iron, or a combination of two or more thereof. b. providing an aggregate, c. providing a primary additive, wherein the primary additive comprises a sugar or derivative thereof, a polyol or derivative thereof, an organic acid, an organic acid salt or an inorganic acid, or any combination of two or more thereof, d. mixing the particulate material, the aggregate and the primary additive with water to form a mixture, and e. carbonating the mixture in the presence of carbon dioxide, wherein the concentration of carbon dioxide is greater than about 2 vol %.

A plurality of granules comprising particulate silicate material bonded together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the hardener is at least one of aluminum phosphate, amorphous aluminosilicate, fluorosilicate, Portland cement, or a calcium silicate, wherein the particulate silicate material is present as at least 50 percent by weight of each granule, based on the total weight of the respective granule, wherein each granule has a total porosity in a range from greater than 0 to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the respective granule, and wherein the granules have Tumble Toughness Value of at least 70 before immersion in water and at least 40 after immersion in water at 20° C.±2° C. for two months. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A plurality of granules comprising particulate silicate material bonded together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the hardener is at least one of aluminum phosphate, amorphous aluminosilicate, fluorosilicate, Portland cement, or a calcium silicate, wherein the particulate silicate material is present as at least 50 percent by weight of each granule, based on the total weight of the respective granule, wherein each granule has a total porosity in a range from greater than 0 to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the respective granule, and wherein the granules have Tumble Toughness Value of at least 70 before immersion in water and at least 40 after immersion in water at 20° C.±2° C. for two months. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A plurality of granules comprising particulate silicate material bonded together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the hardener is at least one of aluminum phosphate, amorphous aluminosilicate, fluorosilicate, Portland cement, or a calcium silicate, wherein the particulate silicate material is present as at least 50 percent by weight of each granule, based on the total weight of the respective granule, wherein each granule has a total porosity in a range from greater than 0 to 50 percent by volume, based on the total volume of the respective granule, and wherein the granules have Tumble Toughness Value of at least 70 before immersion in water and at least 40 after immersion in water at 20° C.±2° C. for two months. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

The present invention relates to fiber cement flooring products. In particular, the present invention provides fiber cement flooring products, at least comprising cement and fibers, characterized in that these fiber cement flooring products comprise amorphous silica in an amount of between about 2 weight % and about 15 weight % compared to the total dry weight of the fiber cement composition of said fiber cement flooring product. The present invention further relates to methods for the production of such fiber cement flooring products as well as uses of such fiber cement flooring products in the building industry. The present invention further relates to fiber cement formulations and fiber cement materials, which are suitable for the production of fiber cement products for flooring applications.

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for the manufacture of pigmented solids structures for which can be used for construction and/or decoration. Manufacturing comprises fixing one or more pigments to an aggregate material such as crushed rock, stone or sand. The pigmented aggregate is incubated with urease or urease producing microorganisms, an amount of a nitrogen source such as urea, and an amount of calcium source such as calcium chloride forming calcite bridges between particles of aggregate. The resulting solid has a hardness and colorfastness for most any construction material. Using selected aggregate and pigment, the process also provides for the manufacture of simulated-stone materials such as clay or granite bricks or blocks, marble counter-tops, and more. The invention is also directed to composition containing microorganisms and pigment as kits that can be added to most any aggregate materials.

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for the manufacture of pigmented solids structures for which can be used for construction and/or decoration. Manufacturing comprises fixing one or more pigments to an aggregate material such as crushed rock, stone or sand. The pigmented aggregate is incubated with urease or urease producing microorganisms, an amount of a nitrogen source such as urea, and an amount of calcium source such as calcium chloride forming calcite bridges between particles of aggregate. The resulting solid has a hardness and colorfastness for most any construction material. Using selected aggregate and pigment, the process also provides for the manufacture of simulated-stone materials such as clay or granite bricks or blocks, marble counter-tops, and more. The invention is also directed to composition containing microorganisms and pigment as kits that can be added to most any aggregate materials.

A method for making a carbonated precast concrete product includes: obtaining a mixture including at least one binder material, an aggregate, and water; molding the mixture into a molded intermediate; demolding the molded intermediate to obtain a demolded intermediate, the demolded intermediate having a first water-to-binder ratio; conditioning the demolded intermediate to provide a conditioned article having a second water-to-binder ratio less than the first water-to-binder ratio of the demolded intermediate; moisturizing at least one surface of the conditioned article with an aqueous medium, thereby causing a weight gain of the conditioned article and providing a moisturized product, a first portion of the moisturized product having a third water-to-binder ratio greater than a fourth water-to-binder ratio of a remainder of the moisturized product; and curing the moisturized product with carbon dioxide to obtain the carbonated precast concrete product.

A method for making a carbonated precast concrete product includes: obtaining a mixture including at least one binder material, an aggregate, and water; molding the mixture into a molded intermediate; demolding the molded intermediate to obtain a demolded intermediate, the demolded intermediate having a first water-to-binder ratio; conditioning the demolded intermediate to provide a conditioned article having a second water-to-binder ratio less than the first water-to-binder ratio of the demolded intermediate; moisturizing at least one surface of the conditioned article with an aqueous medium, thereby causing a weight gain of the conditioned article and providing a moisturized product, a first portion of the moisturized product having a third water-to-binder ratio greater than a fourth water-to-binder ratio of a remainder of the moisturized product; and curing the moisturized product with carbon dioxide to obtain the carbonated precast concrete product.

A cement composition including a hydraulic cement material, a latent-hydraulic cement material, and a non-hydraulic cement material. Also provided is a method including combining, at a jobsite, the cement composition comprising the hydraulic cement material, the latent-hydraulic cement material, and the non-hydraulic cement material with water to provide a cement slurry, and allowing the cement slurry to harden in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) to provide a hardened cement.