A combination desalination, hydroelectric power, and salt production system is described and the related methods. The comprehensive design solves problems and provides economic solutions to problems for arid regions. The system may comprise one of evaporating water from the concentrated brine water to precipitate salt, applying the concentrated brine water for agriculture, filling a recreational or therapeutic pools, mixing the concentrated brine water with gypsum to produce a masonry product, mixing the salt with cement to form a masonry product, mixing the salt with plastic, for example.

A combination desalination, hydroelectric power, and salt production system is described and the related methods. The comprehensive design solves problems and provides economic solutions to problems for arid regions. The system may comprise one of evaporating water from the concentrated brine water to precipitate salt, applying the concentrated brine water for agriculture, filling a recreational or therapeutic pools, mixing the concentrated brine water with gypsum to produce a masonry product, mixing the salt with cement to form a masonry product, mixing the salt with plastic, for example.

Disclosed is a method to produce composite materials, which contain customized mixes of nano- and/or micro-particles with tailored electromagnetic spectral properties, structural elements based thereon, in particular layers, but also bulk materials including inhomogeneous bulk materials. In some embodiments the IR-reflectivity is enhanced predominantly independently of reflectivity for visible wavelength. The enhanced IR-reflectivity is achieved by combining spectral properties from a plurality of nano- and/or micro-particles of distinct size distribution, shape distribution, chemical composition, crystal structure, and crystallinity distribution. This enables to approximate desired target spectra better than know solutions, which comprise only a single type of particles and/or an uncontrolled natural size distribution. Furthermore disclosed are methods of manufacturing such materials, including ceramics, clay, and concrete, as well as applications related to design and construction of buildings or other confined spaces.

Disclosed is a method to produce composite materials, which contain customized mixes of nano- and/or micro-particles with tailored electromagnetic spectral properties, structural elements based thereon, in particular layers, but also bulk materials including inhomogeneous bulk materials. In some embodiments the IR-reflectivity is enhanced predominantly independently of reflectivity for visible wavelength. The enhanced IR-reflectivity is achieved by combining spectral properties from a plurality of nano- and/or micro-particles of distinct size distribution, shape distribution, chemical composition, crystal structure, and crystallinity distribution. This enables to approximate desired target spectra better than know solutions, which comprise only a single type of particles and/or an uncontrolled natural size distribution. Furthermore disclosed are methods of manufacturing such materials, including ceramics, clay, and concrete, as well as applications related to design and construction of buildings or other confined spaces.

An acoustical ceiling panel including a first layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, a second layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, and a sealing layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween. The sealing layer may be positioned between the first major surface of the first layer and the second major surface of the second layer. The side surface of the sealing layer may extend beyond the side surface of the first layer and the side surface of the second layer.

An acoustical ceiling panel including a first layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, a second layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween, and a sealing layer having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a side surface extending therebetween. The sealing layer may be positioned between the first major surface of the first layer and the second major surface of the second layer. The side surface of the sealing layer may extend beyond the side surface of the first layer and the side surface of the second layer.

A composition of a cement additive material to improve durability of cementitious structures, was disclosed. The cement additive composition includes an admixture of one or more of divalent magnesium metal silicates with capacity to act as a latent hydraulic binder in said composition activated by a hydration process under aqueous conditions, and in particular the divalent metal silicate is magnesium-dominated silicate, preferably comprising mineral groups of olivines, orthopyroxenes, amphiboles, and serpentines or mixtures thereof. The composition also includes chloride ions or brine.

A composition of a cement additive material to improve durability of cementitious structures, was disclosed. The cement additive composition includes an admixture of one or more of divalent magnesium metal silicates with capacity to act as a latent hydraulic binder in said composition activated by a hydration process under aqueous conditions, and in particular the divalent metal silicate is magnesium-dominated silicate, preferably comprising mineral groups of olivines, orthopyroxenes, amphiboles, and serpentines or mixtures thereof. The composition also includes chloride ions or brine.

An embodiment includes a Class C fly ash (CFA) cementitious composition with a controllable setting time comprising at least one Class C fly ash; at least one alkali hydroxide; at least one source of phosphate; and water. Alternate embodiments include a Class C fly ash (CFA) cementitious composition with a solid activator comprising at least one Class C fly ash; at least one alkali carbonate; at least one source of phosphate; and water.

A method of forming a core-shell composite material includes depositing a polysiloxane shell to wrap a ceramic core via chemical vapor deposition for forming a core-shell composite material, wherein the ceramic core is an oxide of metal and silicon, which includes 100 parts by weight of calcium, 50 to 95 parts by weight of iron, 15 to 40 parts by weight of silicon, 2 to 15 parts by weight of magnesium, 2 to 20 parts by weight of aluminum, and 2 to 10 parts by weight of manganese.