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 method for controlling the volume expansion of a hydraulically setting composition including steel making slag, the method including a step of adding a silica source to the composition. Furthermore, hydraulically setting compositions obtained by such methods and their uses.

A method for controlling the volume expansion of a hydraulically setting composition including steel making slag, the method including a step of adding a silica source to the composition. Furthermore, hydraulically setting compositions obtained by such methods and their uses.

Disclosed herein are mineral-based composites that comprise gypsum, syngenite, brucite and a hydrated magnesium sulphate mineral, and which are adapted to degrade when buried. Also disclosed herein are mineral mixtures which can be used to produce the mineral-based composites, as well as products, such as plantable containers, formed from the mineral-based composites and which degrade when buried.

Disclosed herein are mineral-based composites that comprise gypsum, syngenite, brucite and a hydrated magnesium sulphate mineral, and which are adapted to degrade when buried. Also disclosed herein are mineral mixtures which can be used to produce the mineral-based composites, as well as products, such as plantable containers, formed from the mineral-based composites and which degrade when buried.

Gypsum panels and methods of making the same are provided. A method of making a gypsum panel includes forming a first gypsum slurry by combining stucco, water, a siliconate, and a phosphate salt or polymer, and setting the first gypsum slurry to form at least part of a core of the gypsum panel, wherein the gypsum panel displays a 2-hour water absorption test weight increase of at least 10 weight percent less than an otherwise identical comparative panel containing no phosphate salt or polymer in its core.

Gypsum panels and methods of making the same are provided. A method of making a gypsum panel includes forming a first gypsum slurry by combining stucco, water, a siliconate, and a phosphate salt or polymer, and setting the first gypsum slurry to form at least part of a core of the gypsum panel, wherein the gypsum panel displays a 2-hour water absorption test weight increase of at least 10 weight percent less than an otherwise identical comparative panel containing no phosphate salt or polymer in its core.

Gypsum panels and methods of making the same are provided. A method of making a gypsum panel includes forming a first gypsum slurry by combining stucco, water, a siliconate, and a phosphate salt or polymer, and setting the first gypsum slurry to form at least part of a core of the gypsum panel, wherein the gypsum panel displays a 2-hour water absorption test weight increase of at least 10 weight percent less than an otherwise identical comparative panel containing no phosphate salt or polymer in its core.

The present invention relates to a geopolymer produced from a synthetic aluminosilicate. The synthetic aluminosilicate was produced by sol gel technology, heat treated and, later, activated using sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide in solution, having as a final product a synthetic geopolymer. The final product was submitted to CO.sub.2 adsorption analysis using thermogravimetry for adsorbed quantification. In addition to the pure geopolymer, it is also possible to produce the synthetic geopolymer with the addition of surfactant, or in the composite form with the addition of zeolite, or heat treated to form a zeolite or functionalized with amine, for example, to increase the adsorption capacity.