A method of agglomerating bulk ceramic fibers includes mixing the bulk ceramic fibers with water to form wet fibers; mixing the wet fibers with a binder including an organic binder and/or an inorganic binder to form agglomerates; and drying the agglomerates. The agglomerates may be mixed with additional binders and fillers to form an insulating mix that may be used to insulate a furnace or other heat source. A foaming nozzle may be used for the application of agglomerates. A foaming agent and water are air atomized within the foaming nozzle and the resulting foam is mixed into pneumatically conveyed agglomerates, which result results in a lightweight refractory material layer on a target substrate.

A method for the construction of a data center, includes (a) providing a fresh concrete composition including a paste that includes a hydraulic binder, a mineral addition and water, the paste being present in a mixture with sand and aggregates, whereby the paste is present in the concrete composition in a volume of <320 L/m.sup.3 and/or the solid volume fraction of said paste is >50 vol.-% and (b) placing the fresh concrete composition so as to build walls, a floor and/or a ceiling of the data center, which are intended to surround the individual components of computer systems, which are housed in the data center.

The invention is directed to compositions, tools and methods for the manufacture of construction materials, masonry, solid structures and compositions to facilitate dust control. More particularly, the invention is directed to the manufacture of bricks, masonry and other solid structures using small amount of aggregate material that is pre-loaded with spores and/or vegetative bacterial cells.

Aggregates useful in building materials such as concrete are described. The aggregates may include fly ash and an inorganic polymer binder, which may be present as an outer layer on a core of fly ash. Methods of preparing the aggregates and concrete mixtures comprising the aggregates are also described. For example, the aggregates may be prepared by contacting fly ash agglomerates with an alkaline solution. The concrete mixtures may comprise the aggregates and a hydraulic cement.

A plurality of granules comprising ceramic particles bound together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the ceramic particles are 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 granule has a minimum Total Solar Reflectance of at least 0.7. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A plurality of granules comprising ceramic particles bound together with an inorganic binder, the inorganic binder comprising reaction product of at least alkali silicate and hardener, wherein the ceramic particles are 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 granule has a minimum Total Solar Reflectance of at least 0.7. The granules are useful, for example, as roofing granules.

A process for preparing a granular ceramic mixture includes the steps of: (a) contacting fluid bed combustion fly ash with an acidic aqueous solution to obtain acidic fluid bed combustion fly ash slurry; (b) removing excess acid from the slurry obtained in step (a) to obtain solid acid treated fluid bed combustion fly ash; and (c) contacting together: (i) the solid acid treated fluid bed combustion fly ash obtained in step (b); (ii) clay; (iii) optionally, feldspar; and (iv) optionally, other ingredients.

A process for preparing a granular ceramic mixture includes the steps of: (a) contacting fluid bed combustion fly ash with an acidic aqueous solution to obtain acidic fluid bed combustion fly ash slurry; (b) removing excess acid from the slurry obtained in step (a) to obtain solid acid treated fluid bed combustion fly ash; and (c) contacting together: (i) the solid acid treated fluid bed combustion fly ash obtained in step (b); (ii) clay; (iii) optionally, feldspar; and (iv) optionally, other ingredients.

Disclosed are a fireproof material, a fireproof plate, a fireproof wall structure for tunnels and a construction method. The fireproof material includes the following components in weight ratio: 20-35 parts of aluminosilicate; 10-25 parts of calcium carbonate; 5-15 parts of magnesium oxide; 5-15 parts of silica; 20-40 parts of a binder; and 5-10 parts of a curing agent, the binder includes at least one of lithium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate in combination with at least one of quartz sand and industrial sugar; and the curing agent is at least one of lithium oxide and magnesium oxide. In the preparation, firstly forming the mixture of aluminosilicate, magnesium oxide and silica into particles at 900° C.-1250° C., and then mixing the particles with calcium carbonate, the binder and the curing agent, and then pouring same into a forming mold and heating and pressing to form the fireproof material.

Disclosed are a fireproof material, a fireproof plate, a fireproof wall structure for tunnels and a construction method. The fireproof material includes the following components in weight ratio: 20-35 parts of aluminosilicate; 10-25 parts of calcium carbonate; 5-15 parts of magnesium oxide; 5-15 parts of silica; 20-40 parts of a binder; and 5-10 parts of a curing agent, the binder includes at least one of lithium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate in combination with at least one of quartz sand and industrial sugar; and the curing agent is at least one of lithium oxide and magnesium oxide. In the preparation, firstly forming the mixture of aluminosilicate, magnesium oxide and silica into particles at 900° C.-1250° C., and then mixing the particles with calcium carbonate, the binder and the curing agent, and then pouring same into a forming mold and heating and pressing to form the fireproof material.