The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for producing a dimensionally stable extruded board product for use in surface coverings. The board product may be a basalt casting powder-based product for use as a substrate for wall or other surface coverings or may be used as a core layer in a modular floor covering unit. The modular floor covering unit comprises multiple layers. The layers are a thin cut stone veneer layer, a core layer with a density similar to that of the thin cut stone veneer layer, and an optional magnetically receptive underlayment layer. Other layers or combinations of layers may also be used.

The present invention relates to additives and, more specifically, the use of biochar, in concrete and other cementitious materials to provide for building materials that have a lower carbon footprint than their traditional counterparts. Traditional methods for production of cement produce large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). When coupled with the massive demand for cement building materials around the world, this means that the cement production has a significant impact on the amount of CO2 produced globally. By including biochar and other additives along with, or instead of some traditional components of cement, one may be able to provide for cementitious building materials that sequester carbon, rather than release it.

The present invention relates to additives and, more specifically, the use of biochar, in concrete and other cementitious materials to provide for building materials that have a lower carbon footprint than their traditional counterparts. Traditional methods for production of cement produce large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). When coupled with the massive demand for cement building materials around the world, this means that the cement production has a significant impact on the amount of CO2 produced globally. By including biochar and other additives along with, or instead of some traditional components of cement, one may be able to provide for cementitious building materials that sequester carbon, rather than release it.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wet accelerator for use in the manufacture of a gypsum product, said wet accelerator comprising water, particles of calcium sulphate dihydrate and a stabiliser. Additionally, a method of preparing a wet accelerator and a method of producing a gypsum product are described.

The present invention relates to a method for the layer-by-layer filling and compaction of cohesive building materials, in particular of cohesive earth building materials, in at least one borehole near the surface, wherein the cohesive building material is introduced into the at least one borehole and is compacted layer-by-layer using a conveying device comprising a stuffing piston driven by means of a push chain drive.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to cement activator compositions for treatment of subterranean formations. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation including placing in the subterranean formation a liquid cement activator composition including water, an alkali sulfate salt, a polyphosphate salt, and a stabilizer polymer.

Asphalt packets and methods of making and using asphalt packets are provided. For example, an asphalt packet can be provided that include asphalt that comprises an inner volume and a polymer film outer coating that encapsulates the inner volume of the asphalt. The polymer film outer coating can be non-tacky at ambient temperatures to permit stacking of a plurality of asphalt packets under weight without causing the packets to agglomerate.

Gypsum panels and methods for their manufacture are provided herein. The gypsum panels include a gypsum core having a first surface and a second opposed surface and a first fiberglass mat associated with the first surface of the gypsum core, such that gypsum from the gypsum core penetrates at least a portion of the first fiberglass mat.

Gypsum panels and methods for their manufacture are provided herein. The gypsum panels include a gypsum core having a first surface and a second opposed surface and a first fiberglass mat associated with the first surface of the gypsum core, such that gypsum from the gypsum core penetrates at least a portion of the first fiberglass mat.

The invention relates to a process for preparing foamed polymer-modified bitumen compositions and to the use thereof for the production of asphalt. The invention also relates to foamed polymer-modified bitumen compositions obtainable by this process. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for producing an asphalt composition and to the use thereof in road applications. The process for the preparation of the foamed polymer-modified bitumen composition comprises the following steps: i) Heating and pressurizing a bitumen to obtain a hot flowing bitumen stream, ii) Injecting under pressure an aqueous polymer dispersion into the hot flowing bitumen stream obtained in step i), to obtain a pressurized flowing mixed stream of the bitumen and the aqueous polymer dispersion; iii) Expanding the flowing mixed stream, in particular to atmospheric pressure, such that the water contained in the aqueous polymer dispersion vaporizes and foams the mixed stream to obtain a foamed polymer-modified bitumen.